A few weeks ago we told you about SB 253 (requires really large corporations to disclose their greenhouse gase emissions) and SB 261 (requires medium and large corporations to disclose risks that stem from climate change). We asked you then to write our legislators, who both came through and voted yes!

Both bills have now passed the Legislature and are on their way to the Governor! We want to put pressure on the Governor to sign both. He has been an inconsistent climate champion, so the fate of the bills is not assured. Please email the governor about both bills.

The deadline to write the Governor for SB 253 is tomorrow, the 15th, and for SB 261, Saturday the 16th. But please do it now while you are thinking about it.

Here is how to email the Governor (with thanks to Climate Action California and the Greenlining Institute). Please customize these templates or use the short version below.

Short version on SB 253: Dear Governor Newsom. Please sign Senate Bill 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, which would require all large U.S.-based corporations doing business in California that make over $1 billion annually to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. SB 253 lays the groundwork for holding corporations accountable for their impacts and sets a gold standard for the rest of the nation and the world to follow.

Short version on SB 261: Dear Governor Newsom. Please sign Senate Bill 261, the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act, which would require corporations, financial institutions, and insurers to report on climate-related financial risk. Accurate and timely disclosure of how climate risks impact a company’s finances will facilitate the transparency key to a well-functioning economy and capital markets.

Please follow these guidelines:

  • Include in the email subject line: “SB 261 (Stern), Sign” or “SB 253 (Wiener), Sign”
  • Address the letter to the Governor
  • Include in letter text: “In case of any questions, please contact (your name here!)”
  • Use 11-point Century Gothic font (if your emailer supports it)

These are by far the most important climate bills passed this year. Thanks very much for helping them get past the last hurdle.