Invested In Climate

The Power of State Action with CA Senator Josh Becker and CA Envirovoters CEO Mary Creasman, Ep #16

Aug 16, 2022

45:01

I've noticed that no matter who I talk to, I keep hearing about the importance of government action for addressing climate change. Laws, public programs, and incentives are critical to speeding up decarbonisation, protecting the environment, and ensuring that historically underserved communities aren't left behind. Much of the climate policy we need will happen at the state and local level. And there's perhaps no state more influential than California. And so I was thrilled to talk with California State Senator Josh Becker, and Mary Creasman, CEO of California Envirovoters. They're both working hard to make sure California continues to be a climate action leader and they provide some great insights to what we can all be doing. So let's dive in.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[3:41] Senator Becker and Mary Creasman - what are their roles in the climate transition
[6:09] The importance of local, state, and federal policy
[9:51] The role CA has played in protecting the environment and fighting climate change
[13:03] Priorities and challenges for climate action in CA
[20:29] The most important actions and ideas for influencing others
[27:46] What is the Justice 40 Act and why it matters
[30:40] Why did Senator Manchin come around and what is the Inflation Reduction Act
[34:34] Climate as a top electoral issue
[37:11] Speaking to voters about climate - what works and how to get more involved
[39:25] The most effective ways for people to accelerate climate policymaking
[42:56] How voters can reach policymakers and actually have an influence