{"id":80180,"date":"2026-04-22T00:50:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T07:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=80180"},"modified":"2026-04-22T00:50:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T07:50:12","slug":"56-ways-california-has-honored-earth-day-as-trump-wages-war-on-the-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=80180","title":{"rendered":"56 ways California has honored Earth Day as Trump wages war on the planet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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From clean energy records to methane satellites to zero-emissions school buses: a year of climate progress<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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SACRAMENTO \u2014\u00a0<\/strong>Earth Day was born on California\u2019s coastline in 1970, and 56 years later, California is still honoring it. Today, as Donald Trump wages war on the environment, public health, and scientific truth, we are reminded of the late conservationist and former U.S. Senator and Governor of Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson. In 1969, he shined a national spotlight on an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara. This was the catalyst for the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.<\/p>\n

The result: people and communities rallied across the nation to demand action on pollution and environmental protection. By December 1970, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had been established, and the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act had all been passed.<\/p>\n

More than 50 years after California inspired Earth Day, the Golden State continues to lead by example.<\/p>\n

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\u201cEarth Day has always been a reminder that when people from all walks of life come together, progress is unstoppable. Donald Trump has spent his presidency harming the planet and people. Meanwhile, California is delivering on our commitments. Leaving this planet better than we found it for generations is the California way.”<\/h4>\n
\nGovernor Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Today, the Governor\u2019s office is highlighting 56 climate announcements (to name just a few) from the past year alone as proof that the Golden State is committed to delivering ambitious climate policies, innovation, public health, environmental stewardship, and subnational leadership around the world.\n<\/p>\n

\"\ud83c\udf0e\"\u00a0Here are 56 of our notable announcements since the last Earth Day (a snapshot of progress, not a complete list):\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    Largest economy in the world to achieve\u00a0power by two-thirds clean energy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Extended\u00a0Cap-and-Invest<\/a>\u00a0through 2045 to cut climate pollution<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Authorized a\u00a0regional electricity market<\/a>\u00a0with other states to lower costs and improve grid reliability<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Launched\u00a0$55 million incentive program\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0to expand public electric vehicle charging<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Improved the\u00a0state\u2019s fast-track clean energy permitting program<\/a>\u00a0to accelerate project development<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    Reached historic levels of\u00a0clean energy<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0zero-emission vehicle<\/a>\u00a0sales<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    California is home to the\u00a0most clean energy jobs<\/a>\u00a0in the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    California was\u00a0running on 100% clean electricity for at least part of the day on more than 9 out of 10 days<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  9. \n

    With Trump AWOL,\u00a0led global climate action at COP30<\/a>\u00a0and inked international partnerships with Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Nigeria<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  10. \n

    Built the nation\u2019s\u00a0largest EV charging network,<\/a>\u00a0with more than 200,000 chargers statewide \u2013 68% more than the state\u2019s gasoline nozzles<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  11. \n

    Added more than\u00a02,100 new affordable homes<\/a>\u00a0to low-income and unhoused Bay Area residents, thanks to state-funded cleanup<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  12. \n

    First-in-the-nation\u00a0methane satellite data<\/a>\u00a0helped stop major leaks \u2014 equal to taking 18,000 cars off the road for a year<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  13. \n

    Grew the\u00a0largest aerial firefighting fleet<\/a>\u00a0in the world<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  14. \n

    Expanded vegetation management and\u00a0prescribed burns<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  15. \n

    \u200b\u200bLaunched\u00a0CalHeatScore<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a lifesaving heat-ranking tool to protect vulnerable populations from dangerous heatwaves<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  16. \n

    Conserved over\u00a0one million acres of land and coastal waters\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  17. \n

    Naturally-produced\u00a0coho salmon<\/a>\u00a0returned to the Russian River\u2019s upper basin \u2014 a first in more than 30 years<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  18. \n

    Launched the first\u00a0new conservancy in 15 years<\/a>\u00a0at the Salton Sea<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  19. \n

    Restored shallow water habitats<\/a>\u00a0in the Salton Sea as part of the state\u2019s first major habitat restoration in the region<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  20. \n

    Doubled down on\u00a0ocean health with historic investments<\/a>\u00a0and landmark report findings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  21. \n

    Announced\u00a0300 wildfire projects fast-tracked<\/a>\u00a0in 300 days<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  22. \n

    Launched\u00a0climate partnerships\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0with the UK, Germany, Ukraine, Spain, and Denmark<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  23. \n

    Funded the\u00a0world\u2019s largest wildlife crossing<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  24. \n

    Announced\u00a0free entry to California State Parks on MLK Day<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 as Trump swaps the \u201cfree day\u201d for his birthday<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  25. \n

    Built a strategy<\/a>\u00a0to boost water storage and protect California\u2019s water supplies in a hotter, drier future<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  26. \n

    Expanded state\u00a0fire prevention strategy<\/a>\u00a0and wildfire resiliency<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  27. \n

    Made history as the first state seeking to join the\u00a0International Union for Conservation of Nature<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  28. \n

    Increased battery storage capacity<\/a>\u00a0and continues to build the grid of the future<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  29. \n

    Appointed<\/a>\u00a0Co-Chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  30. \n

    Announced additional state funding for the\u00a0Sites Reservoir project<\/a>, which combines new water storage with environmental benefits<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  31. \n

    Added\u00a0<\/a>$1B in funding for clean buses and truck vouchers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  32. \n

    Helped\u00a0return spring-run Chinook salmon and other native species to historic habitats<\/a>\u00a0in the Yuba River<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  33. \n

    Upgraded 21 hatcheries to\u00a0boost the state\u2019s salmon and trout populations<\/a>\u00a0and help protect them from the impacts of climate change<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  34. \n

    Helped launch the\u00a0Affordable Clean Cars Coalition<\/a>\u00a0with 10 other states<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  35. \n

    Advanced efforts to\u00a0secure clean and safe drinking water<\/a>\u00a0for Californians<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  36. \n

    Prepositioned\u00a0critical resources various times<\/a>\u00a0ahead of fire and extreme weather conditions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  37. \n

    Launched the Department of Water Resources\u2019 Accountability Action Plan to\u00a0ensure accountability and transparency for potentially impacted communities<\/a>\u00a0during the construction of the Delta Conveyance Project<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  38. \n

    Announced the\u00a0return of 17,030 acres of ancestral land<\/a>\u00a0to the Tule River Indian Tribe<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  39. \n

    Awarded\u00a0$38.2 million to 108 youth programs<\/a>\u00a0across the state to ensure access to natural and cultural resources.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  40. \n

    Led the nation in replacing\u00a0polluting diesel school buses<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  41. \n

    Made\u00a0$7.3 million in grants<\/a>\u00a0available to support community transportation planning<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  42. \n

    Strengthened protections to\u00a0curb methane emissions<\/a>\u00a0at landfills<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  43. \n

    Launched\u00a0mobile air monitoring<\/a>\u00a0in underserved communities \u2013 first-of-its-kind initiative<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  44. \n

    Expanded Big Basin Redwoods State Park<\/a>\u00a0by more than 150 acres<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  45. \n

    Delivered\u00a0$520 million in utility bill relief<\/a>\u00a0to millions of Californians beginning this month<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  46. \n

    Signed\u00a0a partnership with the Republic of Panama<\/a>\u00a0to advance international carbon markets<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  47. \n

    Mobilized\u00a0communities for Earth Month<\/a>\u00a0with the California Climate Action Corps<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  48. \n

    Awarded more than\u00a0$1.2 million in grants<\/a>\u00a0through the Route to Parks program to reduce transportation barriers and expand access to California\u2019s state parks.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  49. \n

    Launched the state\u2019s\u00a0first-ever Tribal Stewardship Policy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  50. \n

    Continued to expand use of beneficial fire<\/a>\u00a0to improve wildfire resiliency, reduce fuels, and restore ecosystems<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  51. \n

    Restored nearly 300,000 acres of habitat<\/a>\u00a0and cut average permitting time to 42 days<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  52. \n

    Approved the world\u2019s\u00a0largest solar and battery\u00a0<\/a>storage project in Fresno County<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  53. \n

    Launched the Fast Charge California Project to\u00a0increase electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers<\/a>\u00a0at businesses and public sites<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  54. \n

    Made\u00a0$2.5 million in grants available<\/a>\u00a0to strengthen connections to state parks through art, culture, and inclusive community engagement<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  55. \n

    Welcomed nearly $1 billion in California\u00a0clean-tech investments<\/a>\u00a0with UK Octopus Energy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  56. \n

    \u00a0AS AMERICA\u2019S FAVORITE GOVERNOR, GAVIN C. NEWSOM MADE THE\u00a0\u00a0TIME100 CLIMATE LIST<\/a>\u00a0FOR DELIVERING ON CLIMATE ACTION<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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    The details about each of these announcements.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    \n\"\u2705\"\u00a0Conservation and pollution reduction<\/strong><\/p>\n