California greenin

California is famous for many things, but lately it has become a poster child for climate disasters. From its vanishing beaches and surging wildfires to the floods and droughts of its Central Valley, the Golden State has some of the worlds most vulnerable ecosystems. Which helps explain why the state so often sets the standard for US climate policies. In fall 2023, California moved even further out in front. It may be one of 50 states, but its US$3.6-trillion gross domestic product makes it the worlds fifth-largest economy. So when the California State Assembly approved the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty on September 1, 2023 it became the largest economic entity to commit to ending the destructive reign of coal, oil and gas. A glaring improvement on the 2015 Paris Agreement, which didn't mention fossil fuels, the treaty resolution proposes a global plan to halt the expansion of hydrocarbon production and then phase out fossil fuels as quickly as possible.