According to a roundup in Inside Climate News, at least five of six climate change ballot measures were passed in the recent elections.
- In the state of Washington voters rejected a measure to overturn the state’s Climate Commitment Act which authorized program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050. It would also have decreased funding for investments in transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation, and emissions reduction. The measure was opposed by a coalition of more than 575 organizations and was opposed by more than 60% of voters.
- In California voters approved a $10 billion bond measure for climate resilience and safe drinking water. At least 40 percent must go to projects that benefit vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
- In Honolulu, Hawaii, voters approved a climate resiliency fund with money to come from existing property tax revenue.
- In Louisiana, voters overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment that requires any revenue received by the state from renewable energy production go into Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.
- In South Dakota 60% of voters rejected a “Landowner Bill of Rights” designed to ease construction of carbon dioxide pipelines. The law had been passed by the legislature, but a grassroots campaign gathered 31,000 signatures to put the law on the ballot and voters overruled it.
For the full report: Climate Initiatives Fare Well Across the Country Despite National Political Climate – Inside Climate News