The science behind climate change is irrefutable. With the increasing severity and frequency of drought, wildfire, extreme heat, and other impacts, Californians just have to look out their windows to know that climate change is real and rapidly getting worse. The impacts once thought decades away are happening now. Recent reports detail some of the impacts to the state:  

• A 2024 national report ranked California the worst state for natural disasters fueled by a changing climate, with expected annual losses totaling more than $16 billion statewide.

• Home insurance is harder and more expensive to get. Seven of California’s largest property insurers, State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, USAA, Travelers, Nationwide and Chubb recently limited new homeowners policies in the Golden State — raising questions about the stability of the California home insurance market.

• During an 11-year period, exposure to wildfire smoke caused more than 50,000 deaths in California and more than $400 billion in economic impacts.  

• During seven extreme heat events over the past decade, California experienced  $7.7 billion in losses.

• Fueled by record drought conditions linked to climate change, the January 2025 Southern California wildfires caused widespread losses including at least 440 deaths, with 31 direct deaths and 409 indirect fatalities from smoke or healthcare disruptions, and destruction of over 16,000 structures. The economic impacts from these fires alone is estimated to be more than $30 billion.