Blog
A space for learning.
Climate Stewards prepare communities for El Niño, extreme weather impacts
With severe storms increasingly likely from the “super El Niño” building in the Pacific Ocean, communities across California are scrambling to prepare – clearing ditches and culverts, fortifying burn scars (like those in Altadena and the greater L.A. area), readying shelters and assembling response teams.
Residents in Santa Barbara County are getting a head start in preparations, thanks in part to Jason Scott-Sheets, a certified University of California Climate Steward.
Thinking About an EV? Here Are Five Reasons to Make the Switch
Electric vehicles (EVs) are no longer for the niche tech enthusiast – they are now a practical choice for the everyday driver. EVs are affordable, can travel farther on a single charge, and new models are continually released. At the same time, charging infrastructure continues to grow steadily across California, making it easier to drive electric, whether you’re commuting, running errands, or taking a road trip.
Speak Out on Sept. 15 to Stop New Oil Wells in Santa Barbara County
Join us Tuesday, Sept. 15, to urge the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to approve proposed amendments to the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) and Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) that would prohibit new onshore oil and gas wells. These long-awaited protections would safeguard community health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent future expansion of oil extraction while creating a responsible pathway for winding down existing operations in Santa Barbara County.
Alza la voz el 15 de septiembre en contra de nuevos pozos petroleros en el condado de Santa Bárbara
Join us Tuesday, Sept. 15, to urge the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to approve proposed amendments to the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) and Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) that would prohibit new onshore oil and gas wells. These long-awaited protections would safeguard community health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent future expansion of oil extraction while creating a responsible pathway for winding down existing operations in Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara’s Community Environmental Council, fights by reversing, repairing, protecting
When Union Oil’s Platform A blew out off the coast of Summerland on Jan. 28, 1969, it spewed three million gallons of crude oil into the Santa Barbara Channel.
As people saw beaches turning black and thousands of dead seabirds piling up on shore, a new era in humankind’s relationship with our planet was ushered in.
Right there to meet it was the Community Environmental Council, (CEC) which has never let it up in its battle to save the only Earth we have.
Jessica McLernon: Investing in a Livable Future
"A healthy and habitable planet is the best legacy we can leave for our children." This is how Jessica McLernon sums up a guiding motif in her life.
Laura Francis: Inspiring Future Generations
A love of nature, coupled with a deep-rooted sense of responsibility for our shared world, have been defining factors in Laura Francis’ life.
Dennis Allen and Jennifer Cushnie: Long Time Climate Crusaders
In this Q&A, Dennis Allen and Jennifer Cushnie describe why climate action is important to them, and how they have facilitated local on-the-ground change for decades.
Catherine Brozowski: Making the World a Better Place
Few people understand this better than Catherine Brozowski, this month's featured Livable World Legacy Society member.
Charles D. (Kim) Kimbell: A Tireless Advocate for the Environment
Kim Kimbell, our legacy donor featured this month, loves nature, is an avid surfer and swimmer, and is a champion of conservation.
Selma Rubin: A Force for Change
Selma Rubin holds a special place among environmentalists and social activists in Santa Barbara. She touched many lives, influenced many important issues in our community, and left a lasting legacy.
Paul Relis: A Pioneer for All Seasons
Paul Relis, the Community Environmental Council's first Executive Director, has been instrumental to the organization's growth and evolution over the past 50 years.
Kathy and Stephanie Yeung: Climate Leadership in Action
It’s one thing to worry about climate change — most of us do. It’s another to get personally involved in efforts to confront the climate crisis and ensure a livable world for future generations, like the Community Environmental Council’s featured donors Kathy and Stephanie Yeung.
March 10: Speak Up for Environmental Justice in Santa Barbara County
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.
Trump’s Energy Policy Isn’t About Security. It’s About Power — and It’s Costing America the Future.
President Trump is once again pushing to expand offshore oil and gas drilling off California’s coast — and calling it “national security.” Californians have heard this before. We also know what it risks: our coastline, our coastal economy, and the climate stability our communities depend on. And offshore drilling isn’t the only front. The same push is now aimed at California’s public lands, proposing to open more than one million acres statewide — including roughly 400,000 acres of parks, beaches, ecological reserves, and surrounding lands on the Central Coast and beyond — to new oil and gas drilling.
From the Birthplace of Earth Day: A Warning and a Way Forward
From the Birthplace of Earth Day: A Warning and a Way Forward
By U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal and Sigrid Wright, CEO of the Community Environmental Council
In downtown Santa Barbara, less than a block from where one of the first Earth Day festivals took place in 1970, we recently gathered environmental and community leaders around a single question: What happens when Washington, D.C. walks away? We were joined by environmental leaders, policymakers, researchers, city officials, youth leaders, and non-profit advocates. Some arrived carrying hope, others exhaustion, most both. All were there because they could feel something shifting — and not for the better.
Gerrie Clemens Drives a Cleaner Future — While Saving Thousands
As Gerrie brought community members together and learned more about the far-reaching impacts of fossil fuels, she asked herself, “What does it look like to live in alignment with the future we’re fighting for?” The next step felt clear. It was time to say goodbye to her gas-powered car.
Santa Barbara County Votes to Phase Out Oil Drilling
Thanks to your support, on Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors directed staff to develop an ordinance ending new oil drilling in the county. The ordinance process is expected to take about six months. County staff will also begin the process of phasing out existing oil operations by developing an amortization study of existing wells and conducting an environmental review.
Minimalism in Motion: How a Free E-Bike Helped Ben Live with More Intention
For Ben, the decision to switch from a car to an electric bike came from a deeper desire for balance — to reduce his carbon footprint, live with more intention, and reconnect with the simple joy of moving through the world at his own pace.
Building Resilience for the Future with Girls Inc. of Carpinteria
In Carpinteria, where recent emergencies have closed Highway 101 and limited access to the coastal community, Girls Inc. has become a Community Resilience Hub. In an emergency, the campus can host 500 people and supply three days of solar power.