Santa Barbara County Passes Resolution in Support of Climate Superfund

News Release: December 9, 2025

Contact: Haley Ehlers – haley@cfrog.org, (805)263-7408; Lauren Leland –  laurenaleland@gmail.com, phone, (858) 212-2731

Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors, residents, advocates call on CA legislature to pass Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act

Santa Barbara – Today, by a 3-2 vote, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in support of the California Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act. Santa Barbara County joins over 20 local governments across California supportive of the Superfund. 

At the hearing, dozens of Santa Barbara County residents and environmental advocates showed support for the resolution and shared their experiences with climate change related catastrophes – from destructive wildfire to life threatening floods. 

“The Central Coast is no stranger to the devastation of the climate crisis. Back in 2015, over 420,000 gallons of heavy crude oil were spilled along our coastline wreaking havoc on our fishing and tourism industries,” said Brooke Balthaser, Community Organizing Manager at Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG). “A few years later in 2017, the Central Coast faced the Thomas Fires, which then caused the 2018 Montecito mudslides that tragically claimed the lives of 23 people and cost over $420 million dollars. How many more climate disasters will it take until polluters are held accountable?” 

Santa Barbara County is significantly impacted by a vast array of climate hazards, threatening coastlines, tourism and agricultural economies, and the health and safety of communities. Wildfire risk continues to grow, sea level rise likely to impact over 200 beaches, and extreme weather events continue to threaten infrastructure. As discussed by supervisors today, there are many concerns around the County’s infrastructure and preparedness in the face of another climate disaster.

“I’m looking at this through the lens of local government and we have just begun the planning, let alone trying to put a price tag on what resilience is going to mean in our community, and so, we need to be thinking about how we are going to fund these efforts,” said District 3 Supervisor Joan Hartmann during the hearing. 

The California Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act would hold the largest fossil fuel companies accountable to the climate damages they have contributed to by providing relief to taxpayers, especially those impacted by recent climate change-disasters. 40 percent of the funds will directly benefit frontline and disadvantaged communities disproportionately affected by climate change. 

“This legislation provides not just an opportunity to mitigate the worst of these impacts, but also to build a better future,” said Lauren Leland, community organizer and founder of Polluters Pay Santa Barbara. “A climate superfund will allow us to invest in the transition to clean energy, create well-paying green jobs, support small businesses as they rebuild from disasters and restore our ecosystems that not only protect us but make Santa Barbara County such a beautiful place to live.”

This vote comes just over one month after over 60 teens from Santa Barbara High School walked out of class demanding action to hold polluters accountable for the climate crisis threatening their futures. 

“In October, Santa Barbara High School students walked out, joining twenty-two hundred students statewide from 50 schools across California”, said Ethan Maday, youth leader who organized the walkout and spoke out at today’s hearing. “Among our chants and incredible speakers was one I want to highlight – our students yelled in unison: ‘We are unstoppable, a better future is possible’.”

The current state policy vehicles for the Climate Superfund, SB 684 and AB 1243, need to pass their legislative houses of origin by the end of January 2026. If that does not happen, the bills will be reintroduced by the authors in the next legislative session. The fossil fuel industry spent over $26 million just this year on lobbying in Sacramento, primarily to slow down this legislation. 

“Santa Barbara County is showing the kind of bold leadership we need from governments to address the climate crisis – from holding polluters accountable for the climate chaos facing our communities to moving forward with a plan to end polluting oil and gas extraction” said Haley Ehlers, Executive Director at Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG). “The demand for climate action and accountability is growing across the Central Coast and California; we hope our representatives in Sacramento are listening.” 

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