SB 535 COALITION

ENGAGING EJ
COMMUNITIES FOR
TRANSFORMATIVE
CLIMATE
INVESTMENTS

Mari Rose Taruc

State Organizing Director
Asian Pacific Environmental
Network

ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
COMMUNITIES:
disproportionately
burdened by
pollution
and poverty
CLIMATE GAP:
low income
people of color
are hit first
and worst by
climate change

3 Es for Climate
Policy:
Equity*
Environment
Economy

*lead with Equity

AB32
Global Warming
Solutions Law
Reduce climate
pollution

SB 535 & AB 1532 amassed 200 supporters from

environmental justice, green, health, business, labor,
immigrant, housing, transportation & faith
organizations, and local elected leaders

WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED?

200+ supporters activated
from bill advocacy into
SB535 Coalition for
successful implementation
of SB 535 (de Leon)
climate investments law.
Hosted 20 webinars &
workshops in 2013-2014 to
engage disadvantaged
communities, organizations
& local agencies on the
SB535 program roll out.

Surveyed SB535
Coalition for
existing AB32
climate programs
with the potential
to deliver benefits
to EJ communities

WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED?

Prioritized 5 near-term
program investment
areas: energy, freight,
housing, transit, urban
forestry
Got all 5 program
priorities included in the
states 3-year
Investment Plan of the
Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Fund
Got all 5 programs
funded in CA Budget FY

WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED?

Got state agencies
to improve public
participation
process by hosting
workshops in
multiple state
locations & online

WHAT IT IS AT STAKE IN THE NEXT

YEAR?
Ensure that investments
land In disadvantaged
communities across the
state for communityidentified projects
Build capacity of
community groups &
small agencies to secure
funds
Strengthen regional &
program-based
coordination to win
benefits & prevent harms

WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO

ACCOMPLISH?
Expand the climate justice
movement by getting low
income & communities of
color excited about climate
programs
Lift up community programs
like bus passes & affordable
housing as climate
solutions-- & get it funded
Ensure a just transition for EJ
communities with reduced
pollution, improved health &
economic opportunities

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO WIN?

Outside game:
engaged communities
armed with information &
coordinated statewide
Inside game: Capitol
advocacy on policy,
budget, agencies
Righting the rules:
agency guidelines that
benefit disadvantaged
communities

SB535 Coalition Program Committees

The Quad

Energy

Transportati
on

Freight

Affordable
Housing

Urban
Forestry

Monitor how each agency is rolling out their SB 535

program and identify improvements (guidelines,
metrics, reporting)
Identify opportunities for how to best position
community projects for funding
Develop on-the-ground experts that influence how
agencies implement SB 535 and climate programs in
general

Kids at the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, CA

How would they fare in carbon trading by Chevron (use free

allowances, offsets, buy more allowances)
Environment: more pollution at source
Economy: some dangerous jobs, no local hire
Equity: higher pollution, worse health impacts

How would they fare in SB535?

Environment: pollution reduction
close to source
Economy: training, local hire,
careers, local business
Equity: investment in underserved
communities