Jan 23, 2020
Dear Governor Newsom–It’s your last chance to choose: our future or fossil fuels.
January 2020
Dear California Governor Gavin Newsom,
We are Californians between the ages of 10 to 26. Many of us live in areas impacted by the fossil fuel industry and the climate emergency it has generated in California and around the world. We demand that you lay out your plan for California’s swift and just transition off fossil fuel production during your State of the State address.
In the past year, we requested a meeting with you twice. The first time was in September before tens of thousands of youth climate strikers in California took to the streets as part of the largest global climate demonstration in history. Together, we joined over 700 groups worldwide in Last Chance Alliance calling on you to take immediate action in line with scientific consensus on both California’s climate and health emergencies. Hearing no response, we asked again to meet with you in October, before the November 1st youth climate strike in Los Angeles, in which Greta Thunberg joined California activists in solidarity. Yet despite all these efforts, you have yet to offer us a meeting.
As you prepare for your State of the State, we are counting on you to follow through for our future. That starts with these steps that you have the power to take as our Governor:
ROLL out setback limits: Protect public health by creating a 2500-foot health and safety buffer zone between fossil fuel infrastructure and homes, schools, and other sensitive sites.
STOP new fossil fuel projects: Lead by ending new permits for oil and gas extraction, fossil fuel infrastructure, and other petrochemical projects in California.
DROP existing fossil fuel production:
Set a national and global precedent by becoming the first oil-producing state to announce a phase-out of existing production in line with the Paris climate goals, with a just and equitable transition that protects workers, communities, and economies.
As you know, the fossil fuel crisis is linked to a long history of extraction in Black, Brown and Indigenous communities alongside an equally long legacy of organizing led by these same communities. We admire your first step in recognizing the “violence, maltreatment and neglect” of Native Americans in California. We appreciate your efforts to see first-hand the environmental justice crisis of oil extraction in the Central Valley after Chevron’s devastating oil spill. And finally, we are encouraged by your important first steps in November to rein in dangerous drilling and your stated commitment to “phase out our dependence on fossil fuels and focus on clean energy sources.”
But as young people and members of communities poisoned by ongoing fossil fuel extraction, we know on a deeply personal level that these steps are not enough. Action is needed for the people who are experiencing terminal illnesses, malnutrition, poverty, and being actively poisoned in our neighborhoods by polluted air and water — all due to the corruption of the fossil fuel industry. We urge you to repair harm and restore health and power to the people of California.
California youth will not stop organizing until we end the production of fossil fuels. All around the state, we are fighting Big Oil like our lives depend on it. Because they do. That is why our next step is continuing to grow our statewide youth movement to hold you accountable.
We need you to be brave and choose a side: our future or fossil fuels?
Sincerely,
43 Californian youth climate leaders, activists and organizers:
Chandini Brennan Agarwal, 16, Los Angeles, Youth Climate Strike LA, One Up Action
Cesar Aguirre, 25, Bakersfield, Central California Environmental Justice Network
Dulce C. Arias, 18, Youth vs Apocalypse
Tianna Arredondo, 26, Fresno,CA, California Regional Organizer — 350.org
Emmet Arries, 18, Atascadero, Sunrise Movement SLO, Sep 27th strike lead
Sofia Anker, 15, Los Angeles, Youth Climate Strike LA
Natalie Blackwelder, 20, Isla Vista, California
Carmen Bouquin, 20, Paso Robles, SLO Climate Strike Organizer, Sunrise Movement
David Bustamante, 22, Sacramento, Sunrise Movement Sacramento
Aniya Butler, 13, Oakland, Youth Vs Apocalypse
Isha Clarke, 16, Oakland, Youth Vs Apocalypse
Nalleli Cobo, 19, Los Angeles, STAND-L.A., South Central Youth Leadership Coalition
Kailynn Cruz, 18, Los Angeles, Youth Climate Strike LA, Zero Hour
Logan Dreher, 22, Sacramento, Sunrise Movement Sacramento
Jesus Ramon Villalba Gastelum, 17, South Gate, California Youth Climate Strike Lead
Nadja Goldberg, 16, San Francisco, Youth Vs. Apocalypse
Ben Goloff, 26, Los Angeles, Center for Biological Diversity
Cemre Gönen, 17, Bay Area, Youth Vs Apocalypse
Gabriela Grover, 11, El Sobrante, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
Paula Kahn, 26, Los Angeles, SoCal 350
Mariah Lazalde, 15, Oakland, Youth Vs. Apocalypse
Magdalena Meyers-Dahlkamp, 11 Oakland, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
Zolboo Namkhaidorj, 25, Richmond Youth Organizer, Communities for a Better Environment
Kobi Naseck, 23, San Francisco, Sunrise Bay Area
Kevin J Patel, 19, Los Angeles, Youth Climate Strike LA, One Up Action
Supriya Patel, 14, Sacramento, Fridays For Future Sacramento, Earth Uprising
Angelica Perkins, 17, Oakland, Youth Vs. Apocalypse
Carrie Ramirez, 18, San Francisco, Youth Vs Apocalypse
Sarah Ricci, 17, Los Angeles, Youth Climate Strike LA, One Up Action
Ash Rosas, 17, Los Angeles County, Sunrise LA
Elena Salinas, 19, Goleta, Sunrise Movement Santa Barbara
Ivan Serna, 19, Los Angeles, California, STAND-L.A.
Winter Sierra, 21, Goleta, Sunrise Movement Santa Barbara
Sam Saxe Taller, 16, Berkeley, Youth Vs Apocalypse
Ash Valenti, 26, Isla Vista, Sunrise Movement Santa Barbara, Eco Vista, and Campus Democrats at UCSB
Rio, 13, Oakland, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
Jasia, 11, Moraga, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
Iman, 11, Richmond, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
Oren, 10, Oakland, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
Asher, 10, Oakland, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
Frances, 10, Benicia, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
Emmett, 14, Oakland, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
Penny, 12, Oakland, Earth Guardians Bay Area Crew
