Lauren Leland
I’m an organizer, and I’m a CEC Climate Steward.
Lauren shares Make Polluters Pay campaign updates at the CEC Environmental Hub.
“When we come together and raise our voices, accountability follows, and our communities grow stronger because of it. Climate Stewards gave me a platform to amplify those voices and prove young people can lead in the climate justice movement.”
About Lauren
Lauren enrolled in the CEC Climate Stewards course to turn climate concern into real-world impact — and left with the tools, mentorship, and confidence to help change public policy.
After moving to Santa Barbara, Lauren was eager to plug into the local climate movement and find a meaningful way to contribute. Witnessing the aftermath of the Palisades fire underscored the urgency she felt, but it was CEC’s Climate Stewards course that showed her how to act. The course offered a clear entry point into the regional climate landscape, a supportive network of peers, and hands-on experience building momentum for change — all while preparing her for graduate school and a career in the environmental field.
Lauren’s Stewardship Project grew from a desire to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the damage caused by their emissions. Inspired by successful efforts across the country and mentored by Climate First: Replacing Oil and Gas (CFROG) in Ventura, she and fellow Climate Steward alum Danae Hogg brought the “Make Polluters Pay” campaign to Santa Barbara. At CEC’s Environmental Hub, they facilitated kickoff meetings, mobilized local partners, and helped launch a grassroots campaign that engaged the broader community, elevated youth voices, and pushed for local policy change.
In October 2025, Lauren helped organize a Make Polluters Pay student walkout, standing alongside teenage activists demanding climate accountability. Soon after, Santa Barbara County voted to support California’s Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act, which has now passed — joining more than 15 cities and counties statewide in securing funding to protect communities and hold polluters responsible.
