SB394 Vetoed by Governor Newsom, Climate Ready Schools Coalition Continues to Fight On

SB394’s veto further delays the efforts to create healthy, safe, and equitable climate resilient schools

Our coalition was deeply disappointed by the veto of SB 394 on October 8, 2023. The bill, introduced by Senator Lena Gonzalez, aimed to create a statewide master plan for healthy, sustainable, and climate-resilient schools to ensure that schools in California are equipped to handle the challenges posed by climate change. We had hoped that the bill would pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable future for schools across the state.

In his veto message, Governor Newsom cited the lack of its $10M allocation as well as the costs associated with implementing SB394 as the reasons for its veto. However, the Climate Ready Schools Coalition argues that the costs of inaction far outweigh the one-time funding required for the master plan. Failing to address the climate-related health and safety impacts on students will result in significant financial burdens in the long run; this veto will ultimately cost the state millions, if not more.

Climate change poses significant threats to the education system in California. Rising temperatures, extreme heat, increased wildfires, and poor air quality due to smoke and pollution all have a detrimental impact on student health and well-being. These conditions lead to disruptions in learning, as classrooms become uncomfortable and unsafe environments for students and teachers alike. The need for climate-resilient schools has never been more urgent.

SB394 aimed to address these challenges by directing state agencies to develop a master plan for healthy, sustainable, and climate-resilient schools. The bill would have focused on upgrading school infrastructure to include clean energy technologies, such as efficient HVAC systems and renewable energy sources. These upgrades would have not only reduced fossil fuel pollution on school sites, but also would provide students with access to healthy IAQ and thermally comfortable classrooms, mitigating the effects of extreme heat and poor air quality (often from wildfire smoke).

Jonathan Klein, co-founder of UndauntedK12 and a California parent, expressed his disappointment. He stated, "Governor Newsom’s decision to veto a bill that would have helped schools get the upgrades they need is a misstep in a state that makes claims to lead on climate and equity. We are better than this."

Senator Lena Gonzalez also voiced her disappointment, highlighting the need for a statewide vision to guide the creation of climate-resilient campuses: “A historic coalition of students, teachers, organized labor, education advocates, and climate stakeholders has called for the creation of a statewide vision that will help guide the state and local education leaders in making campuses climate-resilient – and SB 394 would have been one of the first bills in the nation to do so. The state of California must do better and must act quickly to protect students from extreme heat, flooding, wildfire smoke, and other climate-related health and safety impacts.”

Our coalition continues to believe that the consensus approach for developing a statewide plan as articulated in SB394 is necessary to address the urgent needs of schools in the face of a rapidly changing climate, and we will fight on.

Despite the setback, we remain committed to SB394’s mission and are continuing to have conversations with leaders throughout the state about how to advance healthy, resilient, sustainable school infrastructure. Thousands of Californians expressed their support for the bill, and it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. To that end, the coalition is determined to continue advocating for climate-resilient schools and hopes to work with Governor Newsom, the legislature, and agencies directly to find funding and/or alternative steps to address the goals outlined in the vetoed bill.

The need to act urgently to protect our students from the impacts of climate change cannot be overstated. We firmly believe that collaboration and a shared commitment to student health and learning are crucial in the face of the climate crisis, and we are determined to realize the school communities our young people deserve. As one of our coalition members aptly noted, “time to keep pushing!”