This November has presented us with promising climate initiatives for California and the nation as a whole. 

Starting strong, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the availability of about $2 billion in funds to support community-focused climate resilience projects. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), created by President Biden in 2022, is credited for this funding. This action aims to pave the way for climate solutions and environmental justice in historically ignored and disadvantaged communities. EPA Administrator Micheal S. Regan and Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta agree that locally focused environmental efforts in disadvantaged communities have been neglected for too long. 

On the topic of investing in our communities, on November 16, Vice President Harris introduced the Women in the Sustainable Economy (WISE) Initiative. This initiative seeks to advance female employment and leadership in industries that are key to sustainability. $900 million in direct commitments from public and private entities, including $163 million from the United States government have been made. The main goals of WISE are to provide fruitful jobs for women in resource management, support women-owned, led, and managed businesses, and remove barriers that hinder women from qualifying for resource management jobs.  

Climate initiatives in resource management have also been made on a state level. At the beginning of the month, California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, utilized SB 149 to streamline the Sites Reservoir project. SB 149 is a new law that allows the Governor to streamline qualifying infrastructure projects by avoiding delays from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Sites Reservoir is a large-scale water storage project to address California’s water management issues. Located on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, this off-river reservoir collects excess stormwater from the Sacramento River during the wet season to save for usage during the dry season. This reservoir holds enough water to support 3 million homes for a year. 

Proponents of the Sites Reservoir argue that the project will yield many environmental benefits, including flood management, groundwater recharge, native fish and bird protection, and space for recreational activities. However, opponents of the project say that it will harm aquatic ecosystems by diverting cold water necessary for the survival of salmon and diverting freshwater that controls the salinity of the sea. While it is clear that California needs to take measures to manage its water, the Sites Reservoir project has sparked quite a controversy regarding its environmental impact. 

To end on a celebratory note, on November 15, we saw America Recycles Day. On this day, the White House and EPA recognize the critical importance of recycling for society’s and the environment’s health. President Biden aims to overcome the barriers and limitations of the current recycling system by investing in recycling through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

While the topics discussed are still in the works, seeing our leaders take environmental action seriously and consider environmental impacts when making decisions for our state and nation is uplifting.