2022 was a year of climate action in California

California Construction News staff writer

California implemented measures to cut pollution, get more chargers on the road, protect communities from wildfires and drought this year.

“California is in the business of getting things done: slashing air pollution, launching the clean energy revolution, holding Big Oil accountable, eliminating the tailpipe, and fighting climate-driven crises like wildfire, drought and extreme heat. We’re taking action now because we know later is too late,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a news release.

The California Climate Commitment was supported with a multi-billion-dollar funding announcement. Highlights in the plan include:

• The first offshore wind lease sale on the West Coast was signed this year, and is a milestone on the state’s move to clean energy and its new goal to add 25 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2045.
• Legislation to establish a setback distance of 3,200 feet between any new oil well and homes, schools, or parks. It also ensures comprehensive pollution controls for existing oil wells within 3,200 feet of these facilities.
• California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved one of the world’s first regulations requiring 100 percent of new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035.
• A strategy was released to achieve the state’s goal to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 in order to protect biodiversity, expand access to nature, and tackle climate change.
• Construction is underway on the world’s largest wildlife crossing, to provide a vital bridge for mountain lions and other Santa Monica Mountain wildlife to roam safely between two large areas of habitat.
• Funding was announced aimed at increasing water supply, accelerating projects and modernizing how the state manages water through new technology.
  CAL FIRE launched more than 552 wildfire resilience projects in less than a year and exceeded its 2025 goal of treating 100,000 acres a year.