By LNS California Organizer Veronica Wilson

On election day, in addition to selecting their choice for President of the United States, California voters will decide whether or not to fund climate projects. Measure 4 is a $10 billion bond to spend on clean drinking water, protections from floods, droughts and extreme heat, ocean protections, parks, and clean energy projects, among other initiatives. It prioritizes low-income communities and those living on the frontlines of climate change impacts.

Measure 4 allocates $3.8 billion to water projects — half to improve water quality, the other half to protect the state from disasters like floods and droughts and for restoring rivers and lakes. The rest is $1.95 billion for wildfire and extreme heat projects; $1.9 billion for natural lands, parks, and wildlife projects; $1.2 billion for coastal and ocean protection; $850 billion for clean energy projects; and $300 million for agricultural projects.

California has had a rough budget year in 2024. State budget cuts for affordable housing and resilience centers spurred environmental groups to turn to the public to weigh in. In addition to the dozens of environmental groups, the California State Federation of Labor, California Fire Fighters, California Federation of Teachers, and California Nurses have endorsed Measure 4.