Laura
Deehan

State Director, Environment California

Started on staff: 2002
UC Davis 1997-2001
Laura directs Environment California’s work to tackle global warming, protect the ocean, and stand up for clean air, clean water and open spaces. Laura served on the Environment California board for two years before stepping into the state director role. Most recently, she directed the public health program for CALPIRG, another organization in The Public Interest Network, where she led campaigns to get lead out of school drinking water and toxic chemicals out of cosmetics. Prior to that, Laura ran Environment California citizen outreach offices across the state and, as the Environment California field director, she led campaigns to get California to go solar, ban single use plastic grocery bags, and go 100 percent renewable. Laura lives with her family in Richmond, California, where she enjoys hiking, yoga and baking.

Posts by Laura Deehan
State Assembly passes much-needed bills to save bees

Save the bees

State Assembly passes much-needed bills to save bees

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Assembly passed two bills on Tuesday and Wednesday to protect bees and other wildlife from pesticides. Authored by Asm. Rebecca Bauer Kahan (Orinda), the Pollinator Protection Act (AB 363), instructs the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to develop rules to limit the use of bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides, which are better known as “neonics.” Nine other states, most recently Colorado, have taken similar approaches. Asm. Bauer Kahan’s second measure (AB 1042) gives the DPR the authority to regulate pesticides that are used to treat seeds, closing an oversight gap.

Media Releases  

Statement: California accelerating toward a clean energy-powered future

Clean energy

Statement: California accelerating toward a clean energy-powered future

RICHMOND, Calif. – Gov. Gavin Newsom provided an update Thursday on California’s transition to clean energy and outlined a plan to achieve the state's climate goals. “Building The Electricity Grid of the Future: California’s Clean Energy Transition Plan,” demonstrates California’s new and ongoing efforts to generate 100% of its electricity from clean sources while addressing reliability challenges and ensuring an affordable energy transition for all.

Media Statements  

Statement: California Air Resources Board adopts strong rules to clean up trucks, buses

Clean air

Statement: California Air Resources Board adopts strong rules to clean up trucks, buses

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Air Resources Board (CARB) unanimously on Friday to adopt the Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) rule, which requires replacing diesel trucks used in ports with 100% zero emission trucks by 2035, mandates that 100% of new trucks and buses sold in California by manufacturers be zero emission by 2036, and speeds up the timeline for government and larger companies to only buy zero emission trucks and buses when they purchase new vehicles.

Media Statements  

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