HOME Alliance – Resources
HOME Alliance – Resources
Press Release: As Climate Week NYC Begins, Climate Justice Groups Urge Governor Newsom to Veto Risky Geoengineering Bill
Longer summary or full text
26 September, 2025
New York City, USA
As world leaders, climate activists, and communities gather for Climate Week New York, 23 climate justice organizations and networks, Indigenous Peoples groups and civil society are calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to veto a bill SB 643 ‘Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Program’ that would direct $50 million in taxpayer funds toward speculative and risky carbon dioxide removal (CDR) geoengineering schemes.
In a letter to the Governor, civil society and climate justice groups have warned that SB 643 could set a dangerous precedent for climate policymaking by advancing unproven technologies such as direct air capture, biomass-based carbon removal, and marine geoengineering.
These geoengineering approaches can threaten deep-sea ecosystems along California’s coastline, jeopardize fragile marine life, and risk creating new sacrifice zones. Instead of advancing climate action, the bill would divert attention and resources away from the urgent task of cutting emissions at their source.
“Geoengineering is not a climate solution; it’s a false promise that risks deepening harm to vulnerable ecosystems and communities. Instead of gambling with untested schemes, California should be doubling down on proven solutions, reject SB 643, and invest in strategies that actually cut emissions at the source,” said Coraina de la Plaza, Hands Off Mother Earth (HOME) Alliance.
Last year, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) made a decision to reinforce the precautionary approach to geoengineering and reaffirmed the call for a global de facto moratorium on geoengineering.
While the last day for the Governor to sign or veto bills that were passed during the most recent legislative session is October 12, these groups remind California that it is an official observer to the CBD and should uphold these international commitments rather than undermine them.
Gary Graham Hughes, Biofuelwatch added, “As we watch international environmental agreements get thrown in the wastebasket by the Trump administration, California Governor Newsom must act responsibly and respect the Convention on Biological Diversity and veto this bill. Failure to do so will only expose the Governor’s claims to global environmental leadership to be nothing more than grandstanding and self-promotion. California must honor the existing moratorium on geoengineering under the CBD, and Newsom must veto SB 643.”
California’s climate leadership should remain grounded in science, precaution, and justice – not in unproven schemes that put people and the planet at risk. Nicole Ghio, Food & Water Watch California Director said, “As Californians face wildfires, floods, and droughts made worse by fossil fuels, it’s outrageous to waste public money on specious carbon removal schemes that only perpetuate climate damage. Real leadership means holding polluters accountable and making them pay for the destruction they’ve contributed to. Lawmakers should reject this dangerous bill and instead pass the Climate Superfund Act that makes fossil fuel companies pay for the harm they’ve done.”
Additional Information:
- Letter to Governor Newsom
- Learn about Direct Air Capture, Marine Geoengineering
- Geoengineering Projects Monitoring Map
About Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance
The Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance is a driving force in the fight against the growing threat of large-scale technological manipulation of the climate and biodiversity: geoengineering. We are an international civil society network of close to 200 organizations from over 45 different countries, from the Global South and the Global North. HOME was first launched as a global campaign in April 2010 at The World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Follow us: Website| LinkedIn | Bluesky | X | YouTube
For media enquiries please contact
Gary Graham Hughes, Co-Director & Americas Program Coordinator, BiofuelWatch
Email: garyhughes.bfw@gmail.com, Phone/Signal/WhatsApp: +1-707-223-5434
Neha Gupta, Communications Coordinator, Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance
Email: comms@handsoffmotherearth.org
26 September, 2025
New York City, USA
As world leaders, climate activists, and communities gather for Climate Week New York, 23 climate justice organizations and networks, Indigenous Peoples groups and civil society are calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to veto a bill SB 643 ‘Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Program’ that would direct $50 million in taxpayer funds toward speculative and risky carbon dioxide removal (CDR) geoengineering schemes.
In a letter to the Governor, civil society and climate justice groups have warned that SB 643 could set a dangerous precedent for climate policymaking by advancing unproven technologies such as direct air capture, biomass-based carbon removal, and marine geoengineering.
These geoengineering approaches can threaten deep-sea ecosystems along California’s coastline, jeopardize fragile marine life, and risk creating new sacrifice zones. Instead of advancing climate action, the bill would divert attention and resources away from the urgent task of cutting emissions at their source.
“Geoengineering is not a climate solution; it’s a false promise that risks deepening harm to vulnerable ecosystems and communities. Instead of gambling with untested schemes, California should be doubling down on proven solutions, reject SB 643, and invest in strategies that actually cut emissions at the source,” said Coraina de la Plaza, Hands Off Mother Earth (HOME) Alliance.
Last year, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) made a decision to reinforce the precautionary approach to geoengineering and reaffirmed the call for a global de facto moratorium on geoengineering.
While the last day for the Governor to sign or veto bills that were passed during the most recent legislative session is October 12, these groups remind California that it is an official observer to the CBD and should uphold these international commitments rather than undermine them.
Gary Graham Hughes, Biofuelwatch added, “As we watch international environmental agreements get thrown in the wastebasket by the Trump administration, California Governor Newsom must act responsibly and respect the Convention on Biological Diversity and veto this bill. Failure to do so will only expose the Governor's claims to global environmental leadership to be nothing more than grandstanding and self-promotion. California must honor the existing moratorium on geoengineering under the CBD, and Newsom must veto SB 643.”
California’s climate leadership should remain grounded in science, precaution, and justice - not in unproven schemes that put people and the planet at risk. Nicole Ghio, Food & Water Watch California Director said, "As Californians face wildfires, floods, and droughts made worse by fossil fuels, it’s outrageous to waste public money on specious carbon removal schemes that only perpetuate climate damage. Real leadership means holding polluters accountable and making them pay for the destruction they’ve contributed to. Lawmakers should reject this dangerous bill and instead pass the Climate Superfund Act that makes fossil fuel companies pay for the harm they’ve done."
Additional Information:
- Letter to Governor Newsom
- Learn about Direct Air Capture, Marine Geoengineering
- Geoengineering Projects Monitoring Map
About Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance
The Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance is a driving force in the fight against the growing threat of large-scale technological manipulation of the climate and biodiversity: geoengineering. We are an international civil society network of close to 200 organizations from over 45 different countries, from the Global South and the Global North. HOME was first launched as a global campaign in April 2010 at The World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Follow us: Website| LinkedIn | Bluesky | X | YouTube
For media enquiries please contact
Gary Graham Hughes, Co-Director & Americas Program Coordinator, BiofuelWatch
Email: garyhughes.bfw@gmail.com, Phone/Signal/WhatsApp: +1-707-223-5434
Neha Gupta, Communications Coordinator, Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance
Email: comms@handsoffmotherearth.org
