California’s state excise tax (per gallon) fund roads, infrastructure and other programs with a cleaner fuel formulation. That’s why California, with the fourth largest economy in the World, also has very clean air.
The climate crisis is completely unrelated.
The climate crisis has intensified every factor that drives California wildfires:
- Hotter, drier conditions create extremely flammable vegetation
- Snowpack melts earlier while forests remain dry longer
- More “red flag” wind events like Santa Ana and Diablo winds
- California’s largest and most destructive fires have occurred since 2015
- Fire season is now essentially year-round
There are also other factors with the climate crisis:
- Higher temperatures dry out soil and reduce reservoir efficiency
- Sierra Nevada snowpack (crucial for water supply) is shrinking and melting earlier
- Rivers like the Sacramento and San Joaquin experience lower flows in drought years
- Groundwater over-pumping increases during drought, causing subsidence (ground sinking)
- Extreme atmospheric river events (like winter 2023 and 2024) are becoming more intense
- Water shortages reduce crop yields and increase costs
- Heat waves damage crops like almonds, grapes, citrus, strawberries
- Labor becomes more dangerous due to extreme heat
- Shifts in seasons affect planting/harvesting schedules
The climate crisis affecting California (and the World) are due to many parts of the World experiencing stronger fires, deeper droughts, bigger floods, hotter heat waves and fast-changing coasts.
Human-caused climate change is real, accelerating and already affecting states like California dramatically.
Who are the Climate Denial operatives rejecting the scientific consensus that humans are the primary cause, downplaying the risks, or opposing climate policy?
- Heartland Institute
— One of the most prominent climate-denial organizations
— Known for conferences featuring climate skeptics
— Funded by coal and oil interests (including past funding from ExxonMobil) - Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI)
— Long history of opposing emissions regulations
— Funded by fossil-fuel companies including Exxon
— Sponsored early advertising campaigns arguing CO₂ is “harmless.” - Cato Institute
— Some members and publications challenge climate models or reject severity of warming
— Has accepted fossil-fuel donations - Heritage Foundation
— Strong opponent of climate regulations and renewable energy mandates
— Works closely with conservative lawmakers on environmental rollbacks - American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
— Drafts model bills for state legislatures that reduce environmental rules or promote fossil fuels
— Known for hosting climate-skeptic presentations - Manhattan Institute
— Publishes work criticizing renewable energy and downplaying climate impacts
— Receives oil and gas funding - Fraser Institute (Canada)
— A major climate-skeptic think tank with international influence
— Publishes reports challenging IPCC findings - American Petroleum Institute (API)
–Powerful oil and gas lobbying group
— Historically funded misinformation campaigns (as documented in internal memos) - Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA)
— Major California-area oil lobby, known for campaigns attacking climate initiatives - Americans for Prosperity (AFP) / Koch Network
— Strongly opposed climate legislation and renewable energy mandates
— Funded “climate skeptic” campaigns nationwide - American Energy Alliance
— Opposes electric vehicle incentives and clean-energy standards
— Closely linked to the fossil-fuel industry - Donald Trump and his regime apologists
- Several Republican members of Congress, especially from fossil-fuel states
- State officials in Texas, Oklahoma, West Virginia and others who have challenged federal climate regulations
- Fox News and other right-wing media and social media commentators
Some major oil and gas companies funded disinformation for decades, even while their internal research confirmed global warming.
Key companies involved historically:
- ExxonMobil
- Shell
- BP
- Chevron
The climate denial funding links show a systemic strategy: aligning corporate interests (especially fossil-fuel companies) with think tanks and advocacy networks that challenge climate science or oppose regulation.
For instance, a study found that from 2003–2010 a network of 91 think tanks and industry associations received billions of dollars in funding to support climate-skeptic messaging.
The fossil-fuel industry is reported to have donated at least $75 million (in visible contributions) to Trump’s campaign and related vehicles in the 2024 cycle.
Some corporations or foundations tied to fossil fuels and climate-denial networks (for example, Shell USA Company Foundation) have donated to conservative groups aligned with Trump’s agenda.
Some billionaire donors (e.g., Robert Mercer’s family) supported both climate-skeptic groups and Trump-aligned causes.
As they always say, follow the money.