Committee approves resolution urging state to stop new oil and gas permitting and chart phaseout

The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted Dec. 7 to send a resolution to the full Board urging Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature to discontinue permitting for new oil and gas extraction and to set California on a path to phase out production in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

Supervisor Matt Marr introduced the measure on behalf of the Last Chance Alliance and citing support from more than 750 public health, environmental-justice, climate and labor organizations. Marr said the resolution is grounded in science and public-health research about air pollution risks near extraction sites and the need for statewide leadership to complement local climate work.

Marr described amendments circulated to incorporate youth-commission recommendations and to emphasize just-transition protections for workers in oil and gas sectors if production is phased down. Chair Aaron Peskin proposed strengthening language to say the Board “strongly urges” the governor to act; the sponsor and committee accepted that change along with the youth commission edits.

Public commenters including union representatives, climate groups, youth activists and residents spoke in support and urged additional measures such as setback buffers between fossil-fuel infrastructure and homes and schools, and a just-transition workforce plan.

The committee adopted the sponsor and chair amendments and voted 3-0 to forward the amended resolution to the full Board with recommendation.