Low-income communities and communities of color living in already polluted environments are at the most risk of harm as climate change intensifies. PSR-LA is working with community members and partners in Los Angeles and across California to advocate for the state and local climate policies that center on environmental health and justice. We are challenging false solutions to the climate crisis pushed by the fossil fuel corporations themselves, like carbon capture and carbon trading- asserting that these tactics are no substitute for directly reducing toxic air pollution and greenhouse gases.

Because fossil fuels are the driving force of our climate crisis, and oil extraction is a direct threat to public health in California, we focus on ending urban oil drilling in EJ communities and decarbonization strategies that uplift our communities, like ending burning gas in homes. Thanks to the hard work of PSR-LA, community leaders, and environmental justice organizations, LA and California have begun the transition from fossil fuel dependency to clean energy and are taking great strides in greening homes and buildings in line with fossil fuel phase-out.

In California, the Newsom administration has supported our proposed ban on new oil drilling within 3,200 feet of schools, hospitals, homes, and other sensitive areas, implementing a buffer zone between oil sites and communities. In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and LA City Council both voted to approve ordinances to end new oil and gas extraction activities and phase out existing oil drilling operations in the region. Additionally, to ensure healthy and safe homes for all Angelenos, the City of LA, with PSR-LA’s support, created the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office to work directly with environmental justice communities to co-design policy on extreme heat and climate resilience.

While much work still needs to be done, these victories speak volumes to community members' desire to end neighborhood drilling and transition away from fossil fuels.