IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Victoria
anthony@sunstonestrategies.org 909-637-6369
New polling ahead of Nov. election shows voters in South Los Angeles want stronger action on climate change and fossil fuel pollution
Los Angeles, CA — After a summer of unprecedented climate-fueled wildfires and heat waves, the issue of climate change is a top-of-mind for voters casting their ballot in California’s South Los Angeles region, according to a new poll released today by the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA).
The poll, which surveyed Southern California residents in Florence-Firestone, Huntington Park, Los Angeles and Walnut Park just weeks before election day, found that 80% of residents agree that climate change has played a strong role in fueling this year’s extreme weather events—and 71% of residents say that California isn’t moving fast enough towards 100% clean energy.
In addition to strengthening clean energy targets, voters in South Los Angeles want leaders to enact stronger policies to protect Californians from the devastating health consequences from fossil fuel production. Communities of color and low-income communities in South Los Angeles have been on the frontlines of California’s continued allegiance to oil and gas extraction for decades—over 50 active oil and gas wells reside residential neighborhoods, putting communities at a greater risk of asthma, cancer, and low-birth weight. Eighty percent of residents surveyed support requiring a safety buffer zone between oil operations and the places people live, work, play.
“Elected officials and people running for elected office can no longer ignore the massive amounts of public support to address pollution and climate change. People want real solutions, not just words and promises. We need leaders who are willing to stand up against polluting industries and who will always put the health of their constituents over profit,” said Melissa Romero, Legislative Affairs Manager with the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.
Pollution from fossil fuels has disproportionately harmed frontline communities for decades—and South Los Angeles voters agree that these communities must be first in line to receive the health benefits from the transition to clean energy. 74% agree that the transition to 100% clean energy should happen first in low-income communities to cut pollution and increase clean energy jobs.
Additional results from South Los Angeles polling include:
- Voters ranked free or reduced-cost public transportation for low-income communities and reducing pollution from vehicles as top transportation priorities
- 92% of voters think local residents need to be notified and involved in potentially polluting development projects.
- 53% of voters think that local governments are not doing enough to protect public health when issuing permits for potentially polluting development, particularly for low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.
- A majority of voters disagree with the state’s action to delay the phasing out of fossil fuel plants and 71% of voters say the state needs to move faster in transitioning to 100% clean energy.
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