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California's climate laws get a skeptical second look — from Democrats
A home under construction in Azusa. Some housing developments are exempted from environmental review after changes to a landmark state environmental law.
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Topline:
From refinery regulations to fuel rules to landmark laws capping emissions and mandating environmental reviews, California is retrenching on climate policies — and in an unexpected twist, it’s Democrats leading the way as they look to allay spiraling costs.
State of play: Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers — both in Sacramento and Congress — have made a series of moves to blunt or roll back various environmental laws. That follows a sobering 2024 election for Democrats, who lost ground with voters frustrated by an increasingly unaffordable state.
Why it matters: California has long been a national environmental leader and an important test case for the proposition that ambitious climate change laws can coexist with economic prosperity. That ideal is now under immense strain. Striking the right balance could be vital to Democrats’ fortunes and for the climate movement.
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From Sacramento to Washington: The second Trump administration is casting a long shadow over California, as the White House and Republican allies in Congress work to reverse some of California’s signature climate programs. Sacramento has largely responded by vowing to hold the line. For instance, after Trump attacked California’s cap-and-trade system, Newsom vowed to extend it this year — although those negotiations have also fueled tensions as Newsom and environmentalists split on whether to fortify the program. But California Democrats have not uniformly opposed Trump’s policies. Two Congress members voted with Republicans to overturn Newsom’s ban on future gas-powered car sales, citing the financial toll on their constituents.
Read more in POLITICO’s California Climate newsletter.
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