The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park today hosted the Governor's Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California's Future.
"This event plays as a kind of passing of the climate baton from former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to Gov. Jerry Brown, both of whom will be on stage," says Craig Miller, the senior editor of KQED's Climate Watch. "Schwarzenegger was relentless about beating the climate drum, whereas Brown has been weighed down with budget woes. Hence, his climate plan has been a bit murky to date."
Speaking to a couple hundred leaders in politics, business and science, the governor said that California needs to build on its early start in tackling climate change, and prepare for the unavoidable effects of a changing climate such as sustained droughts and flooding from winter storms.
"The risk is real, the cost is huge and growing, and therefore taking a sequence of realistic steps just makes sense, and that's what we're going to do in California," he said.
Brown had some harsh words for Republicans who deny the existence of climate change.