California voters approved a bond measure Tuesday that will let the state borrow $10 billion to fund wildfire, flood protection and other climate resiliency projects.
Proposition 4 easily passed in a state where devastating wildfires, heat waves and other natural disasters linked to climate change are occurring more frequently. Pollsters say those events — which have driven a homeowners insurance crisis — have led to growing support for climate action across regions and demographic groups.
The measure represents California’s latest effort to spend big on climate resiliency and environmental health projects, with billions allocated to prepare for droughts and floods. While the largest portion of the money will go to water infrastructure, Prop 4 also finances new projects to address wildfire protection and sea-level rise. Forty percent of the money is designated to projects in disadvantaged communities.
The measure passed with a comfortable 58-42 margin, according to the California Secretary of State’s office, slightly below polling that showed it was among the most popular measures on the ballot.
