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Research by the Union of Concerned Scientists and University of California, Merced, indicates that emissions from the 'Carbon Majors'—the 122 largest industrial carbon producers—are responsible for approximately half of the climate-driven reductions in snowpack and streamflow, and increases in irrigation demand across the western United States. The analysis highlights specific 'hot spots' in California and the Pacific Northwest, noting that these emissions contributed to a 15% reduction in April snowpack and a 6.1% decrease in warm season streamflow. In California's Central Valley, 10% of observed groundwater loss is attributed to these companies. The document argues that the fossil fuel industry should be held financially accountable for these damages, as local governments and vulnerable communities currently bear the economic costs of adaptation and infrastructure failure.

The document explains that rising global temperatures increase 'atmospheric thirst,' where the atmosphere absorbs more moisture from the land. In the western U.S., this heat-driven demand has replaced lack of precipitation as the leading cause of exceptional drought since 2000, contributing to a multi-decade megadrought in the Southwest and increasing wildfire risk in California and Nevada.

The Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) Hydrogen Hub is projected to create 220,000 direct jobs in California, including 130,000 in construction and 90,000 permanent positions. The initiative encompasses 35 major projects located across the Los Angeles Basin, Bay Area, Central Valley, and Inland Empire. The hub is supported by an extensive network of partners spanning government agencies, labor unions, academic institutions, and private sector companies across the energy, transportation, and technology industries.

The document argues that major carbon producers are responsible for a significant portion of the increasing wildfire risk in western North America. It attributes 48% of the rise in fire-danger conditions since 1901 and 37% of the cumulative burned forest area since 1986 to emissions from 88 major fossil fuel and cement companies. In California, wildfires between 2017 and 2021 caused over $21 billion in economic damages and released an average of 53 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent annually. The report calls for corporate accountability, legal access to justice, and state-level policies to reduce emissions, improve forest health, and protect vulnerable communities.

California is projected to fall 125 million metric tons of CO2 short of its 2045 targets, necessitating the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to address hard-to-abate industrial emissions and achieve net-negative emissions. The state possesses vast geologic storage potential, particularly in Central Valley saline aquifers, estimated at 30-417 gigatonnes of CO2. Beyond emissions, these technologies are presented as means to improve air quality by reducing sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, and to support workforce stability during the clean energy transition.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analyzed the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) territory to determine the feasibility of retiring natural gas plants. The analysis finds that no new gas capacity is needed by 2030 and that nearly a quarter of existing capacity could be retired. However, the report warns that without clean grid management solutions, remaining plants may cycle on and off more frequently, potentially increasing NOx emissions despite lower overall carbon output. The study emphasizes that local capacity requirements (LCR) are a primary barrier to retiring peaker plants and suggests strategic energy storage and demand shifting as solutions.

The document details a participatory approach to groundwater management in Yolo County, California, where stakeholders defined sustainability objectives and evaluated seven management strategies against uncertainties. The process identified that a 'business-as-usual' approach was unlikely to succeed, while a conjunctive use strategy involving winter recharge and storage ponds proved effective under various climate and regulatory scenarios.

The document explains the requirements of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), detailing the components of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) and the role of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). It identifies six 'undesirable results' that plans must avoid, such as land subsidence and seawater intrusion, and explains the technical tools used to manage these, including water budgets and hydrologic models. The guide emphasizes the subjective nature of 'sustainability' and provides a framework for stakeholders to engage in the planning process, set minimum thresholds, and collaborate with technical experts to ensure plans reflect community values.

The document explains the framework of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to achieve groundwater sustainability by 2040 (or 2042 for low-priority basins). It details the four main components of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP): basin description, sustainable goals to avoid six 'undesirable outcomes', management projects, and monitoring plans. The guide emphasizes that sustainability is a social and technical definition determined by local community values. It provides a framework for understanding water budgets and hydrological models, stressing the need for open-source software and the integration of community values into technical data. Finally, it outlines pathways for public engagement, such as joining GSA boards or advisory committees, and lists critical questions to ensure transparency and accountability in the planning process.

California is facing a critical water supply shift as climate change depletes traditional snowmelt-fed reservoirs, leading to an increased reliance on groundwater. The document highlights that snow is melting up to 30 days earlier than in the mid-twentieth century and that the state's surface-water storage is not designed for a future of rain-dominant precipitation. This has led to the over-pumping of aquifers, particularly in the Central Valley. To address this, the document advocates for the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014, which requires local agencies to develop sustainability plans by 2020. The authors propose capturing floodwaters to recharge aquifers, which would simultaneously reduce flooding risks and provide a buffer against future droughts.

The report examines how California's local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) can develop effective measurable objectives to avoid 'undesirable results' and achieve sustainable yield by 2040. It outlines six characteristics of effective objectives—including clear baselines, quantitative thresholds, and adaptive management—and recommends that the state provide a common framework, identify consistent data sources, and define shared assumptions for modeling sustainable yield.

Energy Innovation proposes a post-2020 policy framework for California centered on a 2030 statewide carbon cap of 40 percent below 1990 levels. The recommendations include decarbonizing the electricity sector through carbon standards and a 50 percent renewable energy target, expanding transportation policies via the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and vehicle electrification, and establishing global benchmarks for methane emission standards in oil and gas operations.

The document details the struggle to protect spring-run Chinook salmon in Butte Creek, California, from the effects of water diversions by Pacific Gas & Energy's DeSabla-Centerville hydroelectric project. It highlights the species' vulnerability to low flows and high temperatures, the role of the Centerville Head Dam in blocking habitat access, and the legal pressure applied by Earthjustice to secure adequate water for spawning fish.

The report evaluates alternative financing for California's high-voltage transmission expansion needed for its 2045 clean energy goals. It finds that a Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-Lease model could save ratepayers up to $3 billion annually, or $123 billion over 40 years, by utilizing low-cost public debt and competitive procurement.

The NAMA Café de Costa Rica initiative has deployed a mobile app and MRV system to track carbon footprints in the coffee sector, leading to a significant correction in national emission estimates for coffee from 8% to 1%. The system collects real data from farmers and mills to identify emission sources—primarily fertiliser, agroforestry, pulp, waste water, and fossil fuels—and supports the adoption of low-emission technologies and premium market access.

California's agricultural industry, particularly in the Central Valley, is facing devastating impacts from a multi-year drought described as the worst in 1200 years. The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standard is being used by companies like Diageo (Blossom Hill winery) and Olam to move beyond basic efficiency toward comprehensive water stewardship. For Diageo, this involved creating an internal "Blue Team" of employees to identify water-saving measures and improve watershed awareness. For Olam, the AWS framework led to the implementation of wastewater treatment via Sudan grass, cascading cleaning systems, and the engineering of multi-crop equipment that enables farmers to invest in drip irrigation. Both companies used the AWS standard to translate global corporate water commitments into local action by recognizing water as a shared resource.