blog post Drought, Water Supply Are Top Environmental Concerns in California By Rachel Lawler, Annabelle Rosser, Gokce Sencan Aug 5, 2021 As the state copes with yet another severe fire season, a new PPIC survey finds that Californians are very concerned about drought and water supply—and they’re increasingly linking these issues to climate change.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Jul 28, 2021 Key findings from the current survey include: One in four Californians name water supply and drought as the state’s top environmental issue; 63% say water supply is a big problem in their region. Majorities approve of the way Governor Newsom and President Biden are handling environmental issues. About six in ten (63%) are very concerned about climate change increasing the severity of wildfires and drought. Majorities across party lines favor prioritizing alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydrogen.
blog post Are Voters in the Mood to Recall Their Governor? By Mark Baldassare May 25, 2021 With most Californians approving of Gavin Newsom’s overall job performance and his handling of the pandemic—and amid an improved economic outlook—recall proponents could face an uphill battle.
blog post State Makes Progress on Wildfire and Forest Health Policy By Henry McCann May 17, 2021 The governor and legislature have pushed for reforms to improve the state’s resilience to wildfire. Here’s a summary of some high-profile policy reforms.
blog post Creating a Place for Nature in the San Joaquin Valley By Lori Pottinger Apr 13, 2021 The quest for groundwater sustainability will result in large amounts of irrigated farmland being retired in the San Joaquin Valley. We talked to Scott Butterfield of The Nature Conservancy about how some of these lands could be restored to natural areas that bring multiple benefits.
blog post Creating a Safety Net for Immigrant Communities By Shannon McConville Jan 21, 2021 Through Disaster Relief Aid for Immigrants, California has dedicated $75 million to assist undocumented immigrants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We talked with Joseph Villela, director of Policy and Advocacy at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, about his organization’s experience in helping create this emergency program.
blog post Droughts Aren’t Just About Water Anymore By Lori Pottinger Dec 15, 2020 An increasingly “thirsty atmosphere” in California and the West is influencing drought. We talked to climate scientist Mike Dettinger about this phenomenon.
blog post When a Lack of Air Conditioning is a Public Health Threat By Lori Pottinger Aug 17, 2020 California is getting hotter, which is leading to public health inequities caused by a lack of air conditioning. We talked to Kelly Sanders of the University of Southern California about addressing “air conditioning deserts."
