California voters will decide this November whether to fund climate programs in communities most affected by climate change.
If approved, Proposition 4 would secure $10 billion for climate resilience projects within the state. A majority of the funds would be designated for water conservation and flood prevention projects followed by wildfire mitigation, forest management and extreme weather and energy infrastructure.
A little less than 40% of that money would be required to go toward disadvantaged communities and those most impacted by the effects of climate change.
Funding for Prop 4 would be generated by the sale of bonds. The Legislative Analyst's Office reports if passed, it would increase state costs by approximately $400 million annually for the next 40 years while California repays the loan. The total cost would be about 10% more than the $10 billion it generates due to these interest payments.
Opponents of Prop 4 say the cost is too high and California can’t afford to incur any more debt. They point to California’s current $68 million dollar budget deficit.
But proponents say Prop 4 is worth the hefty price tag.
Julie Rentner, the president of the nonprofit River Partners, said the proposition will save the state money in the long run as recovery from extreme weather and climate disasters are expensive. If it passes, she said it would be an investment to prevent large-scale economic downfalls in the future.
Instead of thinking about disaster recovery, Rentner said legislators need to turn to prevention.
“It’s about building climate resilience in California by making capital investments in natural solutions,” Rentner said. “Natural solutions that will be dynamic with our weather patterns as they change, and that will help increase the resilience of our communities and our economy.”
She said this type of thinking and planning will help stop the cycle of disaster recovery by mitigating disasters before they occur.
Mark Stemen, professor of Environmental Studies at Chico State and a member of the Butte County Resilience Collaborative also believes legislators should invest in prevention. He said while bonds are the most expensive way to fund government programs, they are also one of the most dependable.
Prop 4 also sets aside funding for resilience centers across the state like the Butte County Resilience Collaborative. These centers help residents within communities prepare for disasters on an individual level.
“Your neighbors are your first line of defense, and the ability to build up the communities to support each other and support ourselves during these times of disasters is exactly what we need,” Stemen said.
The final day to cast a vote in the general election is Nov. 5.
