30x30. More than a goal. It's a movement.

Over 25%. More than 1 in 4 acres. One-quarter of California lands and coastal waters. However you do the math, a clear message was delivered last month when the movement to conserve 30% of California lands and coastal waters by 2030 announced that it had surpassed 25%, reaching a critical milestone and bringing California closer to its goal every day.

To recognize this, more than 400 conservation leaders and community members rallied together in Sacramento this month to honor how far we've come and reflect on what's next. Watch Governor Newsom explain more above, read the press release here, or watch our Secretary Speaker Series recap at the button below.

Hold on tight. Green infrastructure is booming.

State and federal investments are bringing tens of billions of dollars to infrastructure improvements throughout the state, including support for an unprecedented number of nature-based projects: think parks, urban greening, habitat restoration and more. 

Enter one example: the Lookout Slough groundbreaking project is the state's largest-ever tidal wetland restoration project, restoring 3,400 acres of habitat in the Bay Delta. It shows how we're moving faster to restore lands and waters and build nature-based infrastructure needed to help people and nature thrive together.

Or another example: the Northern California Salmon Strongholds initiative was recently selected as one of 10 projects from across the nation highlighted by the Biden-Harris Administration as it builds on California's Salmon Strategy, restores critical habitat, and improves water security on California's North Coast.

Pop quiz: what's an energy code standard?

New state energy standards were adopted last month to make our homes more energy efficient, more comfortable, and more resilient to the changing climate, directing buildings to make big improvements in the coming years. California's energy standards have already saved consumers billions and slashed pollution, and we expect to see more than 500,000 new heat pump installations, enough water savings to fill 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools each year, and emission reductions equal to more than 500,000 homes becoming climate neutral.

Meanwhile the march towards a clean energy future charges ahead, as the US Department of Energy awarded California more than half a billion dollars to improve California's electric grid. And recent sales reports show that Californians continue to join the movement, with 1 in 4 neighbors choosing zero emission vehicles as more EV chargers continue to arrive in California communities. 

Take to the sky for a birds-eye-view of the first tribally-driven marine sanctuary

The first tribally-driven National Marine Sanctuary took a major step last month towards an official designation in California as it protects treasured coastal environments and communities along more than 100 miles of California coastline. Watch an inspiring flyover of this incredible region above, and read more below.

Here's what wildfire investments make possible. And the impact they're making.

You see the announcements. You read about the projects. But dollar amounts tell only half the story. For every dollar invested in California communities, more work accelerates each day to save lives and livelihoods, giving communities a chance to be better prepared and prevent catastrophic wildfire. Case-in-point, watch above how a wildfire resilience project slowed the spread of this summer's record-breaking Park Fire as it advanced towards the Cohasset community.

Will it be wet or dry in the months ahead? Well...it depends.

Everyone's asking about the weather, as we endure another heat wave and crave cooler weather...in October. Will it be wetter than last year? Will there be more storms? Fortunately for us, we have state climatologist Dr. Mike (Anderson) to give us an exclusive inside look on what to expect. 

Watch Dr. Mike, above, break down the forecast (forewarning: the answer is nuanced). Or to take a deeper dive, watch the media briefing to learn what this all means. And then read more about the progress that California is making to boost water and climate resilience, including work to protect our valuable groundwater supplies.

MAKING NEWS ...

ICYMI, here are a few of the links we're reading and clicking:

• As California swelters, climate officials declare Summer 2024 the hottest on record.
• California is gearing up for weather extremes at the start of the water year.
• CAL FIRE announces $27 million in historic green schoolyard grant funding to combat impacts of climate change on California kids.
• Salmon now swim freely in the Klamath River near California border. And the dams are now fully removed, ahead of schedule.
• State department awards $41 million to critical fish restoration projects statewide.
• Progress continues at the Salton Sea, as species habitat projects take shape.
• Thanks to the work of many, a long-term agreement was reached to keep access open to San Onofre State Beach in Southern California. 
• California's State Coastal Conservancy invested $48 million to protect, restore, and improve coasts and watersheds.
• Orange County's Randall Preserve touted for helping boost the state's 30x30 conservation goal.
• California Natural Resource Agency's Exposition Park is preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games in LA. Read how they're meeting the moment.
• California Governor Gavin Newsom celebrates the launch of nation's first hydrogen hub.
• WATCH: see how CAL FIRE is rebuilding old C-130 planes to fight wildfires and build the largest aerial firefighting fleet.
• Endangered species rebounds in California a century after being wiped out.
• 11 of California's most underrated natural places.

On a mission to restore, protect and manage California's natural, historical and cultural resources.