The California climate emergency

We must stop drilling for oil and gas if we want to maintain a livable planet. Unfortunately, greedy oil and gas companies continue to extract every last drop, putting the planet on a dangerous course to render our beloved California unlivable.

The science is clear

As one of the world’s largest economies and a major oil and gas producer, California has an important role to play in building a future beyond fossil fuels and showing the rest of the world that a sustainable clean energy future is possible.

That’s why Greenpeace USA’s California Campaign works alongside frontline communities, local activists, like-minded organizations, and elected officials to:

  • Educate and mobilize tens of thousands of Californians around the climate emergency; 
  • Bring attention to wildfires, droughts, heat, and other extreme weather events fueled by the climate crisis; 
  • Replace broken political systems that polluters exploit with people-powered democracy that works for all; 
  • Uplift a just transition for oil workers and communities that ensure no one is left behind on the pathway to a clean energy economy; and 
  • Demand politicians use their power to maintain health buffer zones between toxic drilling and where people live, work, and play as an important step on the way to a complete phase out of fossil fuel production in the state.

As a direct result of this work, California Governor Gavin Newsom has already taken some major steps to move California off fossil fuels, including:

California is ground-zero for climate change and while these steps show commitment and progress, the crisis we face demands more. We must use this momentum to boldly and swiftly do what is needed to protect our planet and our future. That’s why we’re building people power in California — to:

Ensure California has a future without the toxic practice of neighborhood oil drilling, on the way towards a full phase out of fossil fuels across the state
Move elected officials to ensure that the fossil fuel industry addresses its toxic legacy of harm through legislative, regulatory, and compensatory actions
Demand Chevron and other oil companies leave the state of California, but not before supporting a just transition for fossil fuel workers and communities and paying for the damage that decades of extraction has caused
Highlight the positive impacts of a just transition away from oil, gas, and coal for workers and communities.  

Featured media

California’s TOXIC Secret: Neighborhood Drilling
ACTION: 📽️ The Hollywood sign is 🔥BURNING🔥…because of Big Oil.
Fire Drill Fridays: Climate Change in the Courts
Fire Drill Fridays: California Climate Action – Why it Matters to Us All
Fire Drill Fridays with Jane Fonda, Brie Bella, and Dr. Amy Moas
Fire Drill Fridays with Jane Fonda, Lena Gonzalez, and Maricruz Ramirez