Tag: Community Environmental Council (CEC)

Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Planning Your Fall Meetings?

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Whether you’re planning a board meeting, strategic retreat, volunteer training, film screening, public forum, or year-end gathering, The Environmental Hub provides a welcoming space designed to help mission-driven organizations connect, collaborate, and inspire action.

Located on State Street in the heart of Santa Barbara, The Hub features flexible meeting spaces, built-in AV, a catering kitchen, and competitive non-profit pricing. Every booking also supports the Community Environmental Council’s work to advance climate solutions across the Central Coast.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Strengthening Our Team for the Work Ahead

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At the Community Environmental Council (CEC), our impact depends on people who bring the expertise, leadership, and commitment needed to advance practical climate solutions across the Central Coast.

We’re pleased to welcome two new members to CEC’s Board of Directors, Angela Antenore and Dr. Paasha Mahdavi. Together, they bring deep experience in environmental justice, public policy, governance, and organizational leadership that will help guide CEC’s work in the years ahead.

We’re also excited to welcome three new staff members whose expertise will strengthen programs and partnerships across our region: Development Officer Renee Freeman, Climate-Smart Agriculture Program Manager Brian Sweeney, and Climate Projects Associate Sachi Shiroma.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC)’s Fall Climate Stewards course starts Sept. 15, more upcoming events

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Since launching the course, CEC has certified 256 CEC Climate Stewards — a growing, interconnected network of alumni who are putting what they’ve learned into practice. This diverse mix of educators, non-profit leaders, students, retirees, business owners, and climate allies are tackling challenges ranging from local policy change to plastic pollution to wildfire resilience.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) announces variety of upcoming events

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Before you recycle or throw something away, let’s see if it can be repaired! Join us Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CEC’s Environmental Hub (1219 State St.) for Repair Cafe Santa Barbara, where skilled volunteer fixers will help you troubleshoot and repair everyday items.

Bring up to two items to fix — whether it’s clothing, electronics, bicycles, furniture, toys, or small appliances. You’ll work side by side with volunteers, learn practical repair skills, and help keep valuable items in use instead of creating unnecessary waste.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — An Invitation to Play and Be Present—Join us on June 30, other upcoming events

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Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC) for an uplifting evening of movement, creativity, reflection, and play designed to help you slow down, tune in, and experience a deeper sense of belonging. Through a series of guided, beginner-friendly exercises, you’ll explore how curiosity, imagination, and embodied awareness can open new pathways to connection and resilience.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — A Year of Active Hope: FREE community events all summer long

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What does active hope look like? It looks like learning new skills, meeting inspiring people, celebrating community, coming together around shared solutions, and discovering practical ways to create change.

This summer, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) invites you to join us for A Year of Active Hope — a series of free events offering a welcoming space for people to unite, find courage, and take meaningful steps for our planet.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Thank you for showing up for the Central Coast

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Over the past several weeks, our community invested in a healthier, more resilient future.

From the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival to our Spring Appeal, we saw hundreds of people step forward to support climate action and community resilience across the Central Coast.

Thank you.

Because of supporters like you, this campaign outperformed recent years and raised meaningful support for the work ahead.

At a moment when so much progress feels uncertain, that kind of community investment matters deeply.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Join us June 5 — Preparing Santa Barbara’s Coastline for Climate Change

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How do we protect Santa Barbara’s beloved coastline amid rising seas and a changing climate?

Next week, join us for June’s Climate Fridays Santa Barbara to hear directly from local leaders working toward climate and coastal resilience. Melissa Hetrick, the City of Santa Barbara’s adaptation and resilience manager, will share updates on the Waterfront Adaptation Plan.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Join us for a community salon cohosted by CEC and TedxSantaBarbara (May 27), other events

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Hope is not passive — it’s built through collective action, conversation, and courage. TEDxSantaBarbara and the Community Environmental Council (CEC) are hosting an evening of active hope in the face of the climate crisis. Join us at The Hub for “Climate Action: Energized by Hope” to explore how truth, voice, vision, and sustained action can help us move from eco-anxiety to meaningful impact.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — You have until May 18 to share your input on coastal flooding and erosion solutions

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There’s still time to weigh in, but the deadline is coming up fast. Community members are encouraged to complete the Waterfront Adaptation Survey by Monday, May 18 to help shape the long-term future of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront.

The Waterfront Adaptation Plan looks ahead to the next 30 years, focusing on how to prepare for coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, and sea level rise. At the same time, it aims to protect and enhance what makes the waterfront so important to the community: beach access, recreation, boating, natural habitats, and essential coastal infrastructure.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Final days: we can’t go back

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We’re in the final days of our Spring Appeal, and we’re still working to reach our $75,000 goal by May 15.

We’re close — and every gift matters right now.

We are seeing renewed efforts to expand fossil fuels and roll back climate progress, even here on the Central Coast.

We’ve come too far to go back.

Your gift today will be matched dollar-for-dollar, but only for a short time.

Give now. Your gift will be doubled. ?

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — I didn’t expect to take action like this

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I have long been worried about climate change, but I wasn’t sure what I could actually do to make an impact in my community.

That changed when I joined CEC’s Climate Stewards program.

I gained the tools and confidence to take action, and soon found myself helping bring the “Make Polluters Pay” campaign to Santa Barbara County, organizing alongside students and community members.

It showed me what’s possible when people come together.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — You showed up for Earth Day — what comes next?

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This weekend, thousands of people came together on the Central Coast for the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival.

Together, we celebrated, connected, and recommitted to building a healthier, more resilient future.

Thank you for being part of it.

To carry this momentum forward, CEC is working to raise $75,000 by May 15 — and every gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

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Bilingual report — Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) — Step into the action at the 56th Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival!

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On Saturday, April 25 (11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.) and Sunday, April 26 (11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.), Alameda Park will come alive for the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, one of the longest-running Earth Day gatherings in the country. Presented by the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and CarpEvents, this free festival is a reminder of the reason we started this work 56 years ago: to empower our communities to take meaningful local action for the future of our Central Coast.

This year’s theme — Our Power, Our Planet — calls on all of us to stand together in support of clean air, clean water, renewable energy, and a thriving planet for generations to come. Amid federal rollbacks and climate challenges, this message resonates louder than ever.

Festival-goers can also enjoy live music, a plant-forward Food Court and Beer Garden (featuring reusable cups), a Kids Zone, and over 200 eco-friendly exhibitors throughout the festival. We invite you to step into the action and find the CEC team at:

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — From oil spill to Earth Day — and what comes next

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More than 50 years ago, a devastating oil spill off our coast sparked a powerful movement.
In 1970, our community came together to organize one of the first Earth Day celebrations — and the Community Environmental Council was born.

This weekend, we will gather again.

Earth Day is a reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together to demand change and build solutions.

But today, we are once again facing efforts to expand fossil fuels and roll back progress.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — This is what’s at stake on the Central Coast

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Across the country, we’re seeing renewed efforts to expand fossil fuels and lock in decades of climate risk.

Here on the Central Coast, we know what that means.

We’ve seen what happens when systems fail — and we’ve spent decades building something better.

To protect that progress, CEC is working to raise $75,000 by May 15 — and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

We can’t go back.

Protect our progress ?

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Final Call: Spring Climate Stewards Course starts this Wednesday!

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The Central Coast is counting on people like you to step up for a climate-safe future. CEC’s Climate Stewards Certification Program, in partnership with the University of California Environmental Stewards program, gives you the tools to launch and lead climate solutions in your neighborhood. Starting this Wednesday, April 15, join a cohort of community members, professionals, students, and retirees who are done waiting on the sidelines and ready to lead.

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Bilingual report — Community Environmental Council (CEC) announces 2026 Environmental Heroes ahead of Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival (April 25-26)

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SANTA BARBARA — The Community Environmental Council (CEC) has announced its 2026 Environmental Heroes, honoring Megan Birney Rudert and Assemblymember Gregg Hart for their leadership and innovation in advancing climate solutions. The awards will be presented at the 56th annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, returning to Alameda Park April 25–26, 2026.

One of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country—and among the largest on the West Coast—the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is a beloved community tradition that brings together thousands of attendees for a weekend of environmental action, education, and celebration. The free, two-day event will take place Saturday, April 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — The Spring Climate Stewards Course Starts April 15 — Grow into Climate Leadership, more news, events

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Wednesdays, April 15 through June 3, 2026
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. PDT via Zoom
(Plus occasional weekends for in-person field trips)
You don’t have to be a scientist or politician to make a difference in the climate movement. Real progress happens neighbor by neighbor. CEC’s Climate Stewards Certification Program, in partnership with the University of California Environmental Stewards program, equips everyday people to lead that change, offering a clear path toward meaningful local action.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — We can’t go back

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Help us meet this moment.

To defend climate progress on the Central Coast, we must raise $75,000 by May 15 — and your gift will be doubled thanks to a generous match from our Board and President’s Council.

Make your matched gift today ?

More than 50 years ago, an oil spill off our coast exposed the risks of fossil fuels — and led to the creation of the Community Environmental Council.

Today, we face renewed threats.

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Central Coast sees major climate progress in New Community Environmental Council Impact Report

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SANTA BARBARA — The Community Environmental Council (CEC) released its 2021-2025 Impact Report, marking the conclusion of its most ambitious strategic plan and highlighting the power of community-driven climate action across the Central Coast.

The report reflects five years of progress advancing clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, and community resilience — despite significant challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting federal policies, and the loss of more than $1.5 million in anticipated federal climate funding.

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Community Environmental Council opens enrollment for Spring Climate Stewards Program

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Central Coast residents invited to join Spring 2026 climate action training SANTA BARBARA — The Community Environmental Council (CEC) has opened enrollment for the Spring 2026 Climate Stewards certification course to engage, inspire, and activate individuals on the Central Coast to join…

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Show Up for Our Planet This Earth Month!

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Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC) at our Earth Month events to jump into the local climate movement, connect with your community, and take meaningful action together. From festivals and celebrations to lectures and workshops — there’s something for everyone. Browse the full April events line-up below.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Stop Replacing and Start Repairing at Repair Cafe Santa Barbara in March 21

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Join us at Repair Cafe Santa Barbara to give your broken items a second life. This is a simple, but impactful way to take meaningful climate action that benefits you and the planet. By making small, conscious choices, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Action Alert: Speak Up for Environmental Justice by March 10

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Join us on Tuesday, March 10 to urge Santa Barbara County Supervisors to consider resident feedback and fully address all environmental challenges facing the communities most affected.

Low-income communities and communities of color often bear the brunt of the climate crisis, facing more severe environmental hazards with fewer resources. Santa Barbara County is required by state law to adopt an Environmental Justice (EJ) Element that addresses environmental inequities.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Students — Take Action this Saturday (March 7) at Our Youth Climate Workshop! More news

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If you are — or know — a student in grades 6–12 who cares about the future of our coastlines, wildlife, and communities, this is the moment to spring into climate action. Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC), Santa Barbara High School’s Environmental Advocacy Club, and the Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter for a free, interactive Youth Climate Workshop designed to turn passion into tangible impact.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Funding Alert: Launch a Resilience Hub in Your Community

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Climate disasters like extreme heat, wildfires, poor air quality, and flooding can strike our region at any time. Community Resilience Hubs are trusted, local spaces — like schools and libraries — that support neighborhoods before, during, and after climate disasters. Each Hub is unique and offers services and resources for the specific needs of the community.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Help Shape Central Coast Climate Resilience Plans

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From wildfires and flooding to extreme heat, Southern California communities are facing intensifying climate challenges. Southern California Edison (SCE) — the electric utility company that delivers power to homes and businesses across the Central Coast — is working toward providing safe, reliable service and preparing for increasing climate risks.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Join CEC for A Year of Active Hope

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When climate challenges feel overwhelming, our most powerful response is connection — gathering in community, strengthening our resolve, and finding pathways forward together. Hope is something we must actively practice every day. That’s why the Community Environmental Council (CEC) invites you to join us for A Year of Active Hope.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Only One Week Left to Join CEC Climate Stewards Winter 2026 Cohort!

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The Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) Winter 2026 Climate Stewards cohort begins in just one week! This is your final opportunity to join a growing community of climate advocates turning concern for our planet into meaningful, local action. You don’t need a background in science, advocacy, or policy to join — just a desire to learn, connect, and collaborate to amplify climate action.

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Community Environmental Council recruits Winter Class of Climate Stewards

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“At a time when federal support for climate action is shrinking, communities are increasingly being asked to lead,” said Kathi King, Course Instructor and CEC’s Director of Outreach and Education. “The Climate Stewards program builds the local capacity needed to meet the climate crisis head-on, empowering people to take meaningful action and drive solutions in their own communities.”

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Host your 2026 event at a venue driving climate progress

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The new year welcomes new goals, fresh momentum, and the chance to plan out your events with intention. At CEC’s Environmental Hub (1219 State St., Santa Barbara), you can host your 2026 gatherings in a space that’s both memorable and meaningful, while simultaneously supporting a climate-safe future for the Central Coast. Every booking powers CEC’s critical work to protect our region from climate impacts.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Year-end giving ends soon – act now

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There are just two days left to help us reach our $100,000 year-end goal. Federal rollbacks have left a $1.5 million funding gap, threatening programs that keep our air clean, food systems resilient, and communities prepared for a changing climate. And now, with proposals to reopen the Santa Barbara Channel to offshore drilling, protecting the progress our region has fought for over five decades has never been more critical.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Season’s greetings: Together, we power hope

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Thanks to your support, we’ve continued making a real difference for our communities and the environment. Even amid federal rollbacks and new proposals to expand offshore drilling along our beloved coastline, your generosity helps us fill the gap and protect what makes the Central Coast home.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — From the Birthplace of Earth Day: A Warning and a Way Forward

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Last month, CEC convened environmental leaders from across the Central Coast with Congressman Salud Carbajal to discuss how federal climate rollbacks are affecting our region.

The resulting op-ed, “From the Birthplace of Earth Day: A Warning and a Way Forward,” co-authored by Congressman Carbajal and Sigrid Wright, CEC’s CEO, outlines what we heard and offers a blueprint for resilient, community-centered climate action.

Key takeaways from the op-ed:
• Abrupt federal funding losses are disrupting local climate projects
• Policy instability creates barriers to progress and planning
• Local partnerships are stepping up to fill gaps and protect communities
• The Central Coast offers a model for innovative, durable climate leadership

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — A personal note from Nadra: Help fill the gap

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This holiday season, I’m proud to support the Community Environmental Council in protecting the Central Coast. But federal rollbacks have created a $1.5 million funding gap, threatening programs that keep our air clean, food systems resilient, and communities prepared. And with new proposals to expand offshore drilling along our coastline, it’s clear we must do more than simply fight back — we must strengthen the community-led solutions generations have worked to build.

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Climate Stewards Winter 2026 Enrollment: Turn climate anxiety into community power

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As federal policy and funding rollbacks threaten decades of environmental progress, it’s never been more important for all of us to step up, care for our neighborhoods, restore our ecosystems, and protect the places we love.

CEC’s Climate Stewards Certification Program empowers individuals from all backgrounds to advance bold climate solutions right at home. High school and college students, recent grads, teachers, community members, non-profit staff, business owners, retirees, and more are all invited to join us as we take collective action to move forward meaningful climate progress.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Don’t let 50 years of progress slip away

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We need your help to fill a funding gap, so we can keep hard-won climate progress moving forward on the Central Coast.

Federal rollbacks and anti-climate policies terminated three of CEC’s federal grants — a $1.5 million loss for cleaner air, stronger local food systems, and new green jobs for working families. And now, with new proposals to open parts of the Santa Barbara Channel to offshore oil and gas drilling, the stakes for our region have only grown.

Our goal is to raise $100,000 by December 31 to replace lost funding and protect 50 years of local environmental progress from being undone.

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Central Coast Climate Leaders Meet with Rep. Carbajal

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On Monday, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) co-hosted an urgent listening session with Congressman Salud Carbajal, bringing together more than 20 environmental non-profit leaders from across the Central Coast.

The discussion — “The Impact of Federal Disinvestment and Anti-Climate Policies” — explored the real impacts of federal rollbacks, anti-climate policies, and abrupt funding losses that have put millions of dollars in regional climate projects at risk, threatening years of progress across the Central Coast.

Concerns were also raised over new offshore drilling threats, weakened environmental safeguards, and a growing erosion of public trust and morale as communities struggle to plan amid shifting federal priorities.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Claim up to $20,000 toward an EV!

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You can still claim up to $20,000 when you switch to an electric vehicle, and CEC can help you figure out which programs you qualify for and which incentives you can stack for maximum savings.
Here’s a breakdown of the key state and local programs offering rebates and incentives. These can be applied to an EV purchase or lease.

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Join CEC, SBHS students, elected officials and local climate champions on Nov. 8 for our next Youth Climate Workshop on climate advocacy, more upcoming events

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Students in grades six through 12 who want to take meaningful climate action are invited to a FREE, hands-on workshop at CEC’s Environmental Hub, co-hosted by CEC and Santa Barbara High School’s Environmental Advocacy Club. In this session, we will dive into environmental policy advocacy, break down the public comment process, and show you how to use your voice to stand up for climate justice.

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