Press and Media
Media contact: Tia Kordell, Communications Project Manager
Press Releases
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2026) — In a Santa Maria hearing today, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to ban new onshore oil and gas wells in the County. The landmark decision is a major step in the County’s transition away from fossil fuels and is expected to reduce climate pollution, improve air quality, and protect public health.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (15 de septiembre de 2026) — En una sesión celebrada hoy en Santa María, la Junta de Supervisores del condado de Santa Bárbara votó 3-2 a favor de prohibir la construcción de nuevos pozos de petróleo y gas en tierra firme en el condado. La decisión histórica es un gran paso en la transición del condado para alejarse de los combustibles fósiles y se espera que reduzca la contaminación climática, mejore la calidad del aire y proteja la salud pública.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (August 19, 2026) – The Community Environmental Council (CEC) invites Central Coast residents to register for CEC’s Climate Stewards course. A seven-week course beginning September 15, the program is designed to turn climate-interested individuals into climate leaders.
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Upcoming Events
How will the midterm election results affect climate policy? Join us for November’s Climate Fridays Santa Barbara for a timely discussion on what the results could mean for climate action in California and beyond. CEC board member Paasha Mahdavi, associate professor of political science at UC Santa Barbara and climate policy expert, will moderate a conversation with California Assemblymember Gregg Hart and policy consultant Geordi Scully-Taylor. Bring your questions as we explore what comes next for climate policy.
Join us for Repair Cafe Santa Barbara, a completely free, community-powered event where volunteers help fix broken items instead of sending them to the landfill. Bring up to two items —such as clothing, electronics, bikes, furniture, toys, small appliances, or knives for sharpening —and work alongside skilled fixers to bring them back to life.
Slow down, breathe deeply, and settle into the present moment. Join us for an evening of art, mindfulness, and meditation to the sounds of live cello and poetry. Selected poems will be read aloud to spark your imagination while a cello sound bath awakens your senses, with moments of calm and moments of creativity and connection. The evening is co-facilitated by cellist and meditation instructor Ilan MacAdam-Somer and performer and somatic practitioner Teagan Rose. Ilan is an environmental consultant who specializes in carbon footprinting and has studied mindfulness-based stress reduction. He brings live cello into his sessions to create a restorative experience. Teagan is the author of “The Emotional Body” and a core team member of Dance Hive. She has partnered with CEC throughout 2026 to bring the monthly Embodied Arts Series to the community as part of A Year of Active Hope. During the meditation, sit or lie down in whatever position feels comfortable. Blankets will be provided, so bring any other supports you’d like, such as a yoga mat, pillow, or bolster.
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.