SANTA BARBARA, Calif (February 18, 2026) – The Community Environmental Council (CEC) ​​is hosting a variety of spring events at its Environmental Hub (1219 State St.) as part of A Year of Active Hope — a 2026 event series designed to unite the community around climate solutions, creative expression, and hands-on learning. The spring offerings include film screenings, panels, workshops, community-powered repair fairs, experiential art sessions, and more, creating opportunities for residents of all ages to take meaningful climate action. 

3 de febrero, 2026 (SANTA BÁRBARA, CALIFORNIA) — El Festival del Día de la Tierra en Santa Bárbara tendrá lugar en el Parque Alameda el sábado 25 de abril de 11:00 a.m. a 8:00 p.m. y el domingo 26 de abril de 11:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m., 2026. Ahora en su 56.º año, el festival organizado por la comunidad es una de las celebraciones más longevas del Día de la Tierra en la nación y una de las más grandes de la Costa Oeste.

February 3, 2026  (SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.) – The Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival returns to Alameda Park on 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., 2026. Now in its 56th year, the community-organized festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the nation and one of the largest on the West Coast.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif (January 13, 2026) – The Community Environmental Council (CEC) opened enrollment for the next session of its Climate Stewards certification course, designed to engage and empower individuals on the Central Coast to take meaningful climate action. CEC is proud to be the first and only nonprofit in the region to deliver the Climate Stewards certification program in partnership with the UC Environmental Stewards program, and one of only a handful across the state.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (October 7, 2025) – The Community Environmental Council (CEC) and Central Coast Riviera Roses (CCRR) will co-host an inspiring evening with renowned wildlife ecologist and storyteller Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, October 10, at CEC’s Environmental Hub (1219 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101). This is a rare opportunity to hear firsthand the story behind her memoir, Wild Life: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World, as she explores humanity’s evolving relationship with nature.

 El Mes Nacional de la Conducción Eléctrica se celebra del 12 de septiembre al 12 de octubre de 2025, y el Consejo Comunitario del Medioambiente (CEC por sus siglas en inglés) está creando conciencia sobre los beneficios de conducir vehículos eléctricos y los miles de dólares que las personas pueden ahorrar en un vehículo eléctrico (VE) nuevo o usado. El crédito tributario federal para vehículos eléctricos, con un valor de hasta $7,500, vence el 30 de septiembre de 2025. Si sientes curiosidad por conducir un vehículo eléctrico, no hay mejor momento para asistir a un evento del Mes Nacional de la Conducción Eléctrica para hablar con los propietarios de vehículos eléctricos, ver los modelos más populares y aprender cómo acceder a los incentivos y descuentos para vehículos eléctricos.

National Drive Electric Month is September 12 to October 12, 2025, and the Community Environmental Council (CEC) is raising awareness about the benefits of driving electric and the thousands of dollars individuals can save on a new or used electric vehicle (EV). The federal EV tax credit – worth up to $7,500 – expires on September 30, 2025. If you're curious about driving electric, there is no better time to come to a National Drive Electric Month event to talk with EV owners, check out popular models, and learn how to access EV incentives and rebates.

 The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is now enrolling its Fall 2025 Climate Stewards certification course, designed to engage and empower Central Coast residents to take action on climate change. Learn more about CEC's Climate Stewards program and sign up here: cecsb.org/climate-stewards

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) has released its most recent Impact Report, which shares key highlights of how CEC is converting a historically oil producing region to one that is regenerative and renewable.

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) has launched Central Coast AgLink (CCAL), a free program that provides personalized support to farmers, ranchers, and land stewards for climate-smart practices on their land. Producers are encouraged to sign up through the AgLink form on CEC’s website to get connected with funding and resources.

 The Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) Environmental Hub (“The Hub”) now offers an outdoor patio as part of its versatile, budget-friendly event rental options. The Hub, located in the heart of Downtown Santa Barbara’s ARTS District, is perfect for conferences, summits, workshops, film screenings, receptions, parties, and more. Now, the small private patio expands opportunities to include small outdoor gatherings on nights and weekends.

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper are hosting the 4th Annual Plastic-Free Expo, a free family-friendly event dedicated to sharing resources and strategies for ditching single-use plastics. Community members are invited to RSVP here for the in-person event, which will take place from 6:30 - 8 p.m., June 25, at CEC’s Environmental Hub (1219 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101). 

This May, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) invites the public to engage in a month of inspiring, educational, and action-oriented free public events at its downtown Environmental Hub.

El Consejo Comunitario del Medioambiente (CEC por sus siglas en inglés) y su colaborador y productor de festivales CarpEvents, están encantados de traer nuevamente el Festival del Día de la Tierra en Santa Bárbara al Parque Alameda el sábado 26 de abril de las 11:00 a.m. a las 8:00 p.m. y el domingo 27 de abril de las 11:00 a.m. a las 7:00 p.m. de 2025. Ahora, en su 55º año, el Festival del Día de la Tierra en Santa Bárbara es una de las celebraciones del Día de la Tierra más antiguas del país y es una de las más grandes de la costa oeste. 

The Community Environmental Council and its festival producer, CarpEvents, are thrilled to bring the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival back to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., 2025. Now in its 55th year, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country, and is one of the largest on the West Coast. 

El Festival del Día de la Tierra de Santa Bárbara tendrá lugar en el Parque Alameda el sábado 26 de abril de 11:00 a.m. a 8:00 p.m. y el domingo 27 de abril de 11:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m., 2025. Este año, el festival se alinea con el tema global de la Red del Día de la Tierra: Nuestro Poder, Nuestro Planeta. Este tema invita a todo el mundo a unirse en torno a la energía renovable y a trabajar juntos para triplicar la generación mundial de energía renovable de aquí a 2030. Para ampliar aún más esta importante iniciativa, el CEC se complace en anunciar a la Dra. Leah Stokes quien recibirá el Premio a la Heroína Ambiental del Día de la Tierra de Santa Bárbara de 2025.

The Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival will take over Alameda Park on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., 2025. This year, the festival is aligning with the Earth Day Network’s global theme of Our Power, Our Planet. This theme invites everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy and to work together to triple the global generation of renewable energy by 2030. To further amplify this critical initiative, CEC is pleased to announce Dr. Leah Stokes as the recipient of its 2025 Santa Barbara Earth Day Environmental Hero Award.

The Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is set to return to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., 2025. 

The Winter 2025 course will meet weekly beginning January 28  through March 18, 2025. Prospective participants are invited to sign up now online to join the next cohort of Climate Stewards.

The Community Environmental Council (CEC), in partnership with UCSB’s California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) and Santa Barbara County’s Wildfire Resilience Collaborative, will host the Living with Fire Summit on Wednesday, October 23rd from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. with a reception from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.at CEC’s Environmental Hub at 1219 State Street, in Downtown Santa Barbara. This free community event will bring together leaders from various sectors to discuss wildfire resilience projects in the region. Registration is required at cec.pub/firesummit.