Trust for Public Land Celebrates the Passage of Proposition 4, California’s Groundbreaking Commitment to Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice

San Francisco, CA- Last night, California voters passed Proposition 4, a transformative investment in natural and built infrastructure that will protect our communities, water supply, and iconic landscapes for future generations.

Trust for Public LandVice President of the Pacific Region and California State Director Guillermo Rodriguez released the following statement:

"Passing bold environmental measures like Prop 4 is never easy, but this result is an incredible down-payment on the climate challenges that lie ahead for California communities. Voters understand that climate change is a serious threat to our quality of life, but we now have the tools to build a more resilient future. Prop 4's focus on prevention and preparedness represents a pivotal shift away from reacting to the impacts of climate change to now addressing them head on, by allowing us to strengthen our natural defenses, particularly in disadvantaged communities that bear the brunt of climate impacts.

The overwhelming support and passage for Prop 4, enables a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect our communities, save lives, and invest in the health of our environment and future. TPL is deeply grateful to the coalition of labor, business, first responders, agricultural, and environmental organizations that helped make this a reality, and especially to California voters for making this critical commitment to our state's resilience."

Building on the progress made through the 2018 $4 billion bond (Proposition 68) for equitable climate resilience, Proposition 4's $400 million allocation for parks and open spaces in underserved communities provides an unprecedented opportunity to expand projects like Mateo Street Park and Banning Ranch, bringing park access and green infrastructure to communities across the state. An additional $870 million will support the state's 30×30 conservation goals through the Wildlife Conservancy Board, while $415 million will benefit the California Coastal Conservancy. These targeted investments not only preserve natural landscapes but improve quality of life for all Californians.

Prop 4 directs at least 40% of funding to vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, advancing environmental justice by ensuring that those most affected by climate change receive the support they need. This funding will support vital improvements to safe drinking water, air quality, and wildfire resilience, as well as park creation in underserved areas-all while reducing future climate-related damages and costs.

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About Trust for Public Land 

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, and raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org