California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a $15 billion ($A20.5 billion) package that will fund programs to tackle drought and climate change in the state after a devastating wildfire season.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Newsom signed 24 bills focused on climate and clean energy efforts, droughts, and wildfire preparedness, in the largest climate package in California's history.
The largest portion, $5.2 billion, ($A7 billion) will go towards funding for emergency drought relief projects and expanding California's water supplies. The package includes $3.7 billion ($A5 billion) to address climate change risks, invest in projects that will mitigate extreme heat and tackle the threat of rising sea levels.
This month, President Joe Biden renewed his push for significant investments to combat climate change as he visited California and took an aerial tour of areas hit by one of the country's worst fire seasons.
California is on track to see more of its landscape go up in flames this year than last, which was already the worst year on record for the state.
Climate change has intensified the withering drought gripping the southwestern United States, the region's most severe on record, a US government report said on Tuesday.
The report warned that extreme drought conditions are likely to worsen and repeat themselves "until stringent climate mitigation is pursued and regional warming trends are reversed."
Australian Associated Press
