Environmental Community to State Leaders: Protect California’s Most Important Environmental Laws

Relaxing Environmental Standards Threatens the New Energy Economy, Green Jobs

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (December 19, 2008) – California’s leading environmental groups issued a joint statement on yesterday’s State Budget events: “As Governor Schwarzenegger has said repeatedly, a strong economy and a healthy environment go hand in hand. The same is true for lasting economic recovery. As the our state and our nation struggle to revitalize our economy, California should lead the way by demonstrating that the new energy economy can produce economic prosperity and green jobs, without sacrificing environmental standards that have contributed to California’s prosperity in the first place.” The groups issuing the statement include the California League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club California, Planning and Conservation League, and Environment California.

“The state legislature and the Governor must not use the budget crisis as an excuse to weaken the state’s most important environmental laws,” said Anthony Rendon, Interim Executive Director of the League of Conservation Voters. “We can fix our budget and boost our economy through smart planning and renewable technologies, without sacrificing the environment.”

The incoming Obama Administration is preparing to pursue a green economy with billions of dollars to fund projects that create jobs and protect the environment. But at this critical moment, California’s leaders are still proposing relaxing environmental standards for big transportation projects.

“California’s environmental protections are not roadblocks to economic stimulus; they provide a roadmap to an economically vibrant and environmentally healthy California,” said Laura Harnish, Regional Director of the Environmental Defense Fund.

“It may take years to develop and invest in California’s green economy, but we’ll reap the benefit for decades to come,” said Ann Notthoff of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Now is the time to propel our laws and businesses toward a stable economic future that puts people and the environment first, instead of polluters. We have gifts waiting to be opened in the form of new jobs, a clean technology economy, and less pollution, but California’s legislators are telling us to wait until next year.”

A broad range of environmental and public health groups believe California should lead the nation in a new sustainable direction to a truly green economy, but not by eviscerating the laws that help leaders make smart decisions about which investments to make. The groups opposing the loosening of environmental quality protections include the California Coastkeeper Alliance, California League of Conservation Voters, Coalition for Clean Air, Community Action to Fight Asthma, Defenders of Wildlife, Environment California, Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council, Planning and Conservation League, Regional Asthma Management and Prevention Initiative, and Sierra Club California.

About the California League of Conservation Voters

The political muscle of the environmental movement in America’s leading environmental state, the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) is the nation’s oldest grassroots environmental political action organization. CLCV uses sophisticated campaign tools to help elect pro-environment officials – and to hold them accountable for passing legislation to protect health, communities and the environment. CLCV publishes the annual California Environmental Scorecard, which rates the actions of every state legislator and the governor on the state’s environmental priorities each legislative year. For the results of the 35th annual California Environmental Scorecard, and for information on CLCV’s 2008 election priorities and endorsements, visit www.ecovote.org.

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