Holiday Makers Market at CEC
Environmentalists know how to have fun, too! Head downtown for First Thursday, and leave plenty of time to celebrate the season sustainably at CEC’s Green Holiday Market, a festive evening filled with eco-friendly shopping, creative crafting, and community cheer. Explore a curated lineup of vendors offering thoughtful, sustainably-made gifts, including ceramics, jewelry, paper goods, and vintage finds. This collaborative event, hosted by Beachside Babes Market and CEC, will feature flash tattoos, the chance to craft your own upcycled charm bracelet or necklace, and sustainable gift wrapping from local Girl Scouts. Come sip on cozy hot cacao as you browse and get your holiday shopping done while supporting Santa Barbara makers and the planet.
When: December 4th, 4-8 p.m.
Where: Community Environmental Council Hub, 1219 State St., Santa Barbara
image credit: Anes Mchayaa on Unsplash
Last Climate Friday of 2025 is this Week!
When: December 5th, 3:30-5 p.m.
Where: Community Environmental Council Hub, 1219 State St.
After hauling all your Sustainability Market Treasures home on Thursday evening, come back to the CEC the next day for our last Climate Friday of the year. A happy hour featuring beverages and delicious holiday cookies after the program will make this a merry event as will the good-news-focus on sustainability wins in the City of Goleta. We will hear from City of Goleta Sustainability Manager Dana Murray, City of Goleta Councilmember Stuart Kasdin, and Clean Coalition to learn more about trail expansion and bike access.
Climate Fridays Santa Barbara continues in 2026. Our January 9 gathering will feature a resource fair including partner tables and lots of time to network!
December 9th and December 16th — Two Important Board of Supervisors Votes Scheduled.
Save the Dates!
For the many of us who celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, winter solstice, or any other holiday this season, the last thing we want to do right now is show up to a Board of Supervisors meeting. On the other hand, what better gift to give ourselves, our loved ones, and all the other creatures on the planet than to do just that — show up. But, we also know that it’s very important to take breaks, re-charge, and enjoy the company of the people we care about, so, as always, we all just do what we can. With that being said, here’s what’s on the docket this month.
SB High Students Demanding Polluter’s Pay on Nov. 24, 2025
POLLUTERS PAY RESOLUTION
Last time we wrote about Polluters Pay, we asked that you contact your City Council member encouraging him/her to support the bill. Your efforts paid off! We’re happy to report that four of the seven Council members have endorsed the bill.
Now we have an opportunity to show our support — either in person, online, or through email — at a Board of Supervisors meeting on December 9th when the vote on a resolution in support of Polluters Pay is scheduled. A quick refresher: Polluters Pay is legislation that asks the largest fossil fuel companies to pay into a fund (similar to the EPA’s Superfund) that would be used to offset the enormous costs of climate disasters related to greenhouse gas emissions. Californians can’t afford to keep footing the bill for these disasters while fossil fuel companies make obscene profits. The property and capital losses of the LA Fires alone are estimated to be between $95 and $164 billion while Exxon’s profits in 2024 were 33.7 billion. We think they can spare a little.
State legislators notice when cities and counties endorse a bill, so voicing your support for this upcoming resolution is important to build the momentum needed to give this bill — to be honest — “a ghost of a chance.” In spite of it being a common sense bill, the outsized influence of the fossil fuel companies makes passing it a very heavy lift, and all of our efforts are needed to try to get it over the finish line. If you’d like to make a comment to the Board, here’s a toolkit with a whole lot of information and talking points that you can craft into your own statement.
Look for another email soon with specifics on how to deliver your comments.
SABLE, AGAIN
As we look back on a truly grim year in politics, at least Election Day last month provided a welcome ray of hope around the nation, in California, and in our immediate area. In case you missed it, on November 4th, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to deny the transfer of Exxon’s last development permit to Sable Corp. Or begin the process of denying — please see the next paragraph. While three no votes were in little doubt, the fourth, cast by Supervisor Steve Lavagnino was a surprise. Even though he’s pro oil, Sable’s Trumpian-type disregard for government regulatory agencies (like the California Coastal Commission) that attempted to enforce various rules, was a bridge too far for Lavagnino.
BUT your voice is still helpful to assure this nail makes it into this particular coffin. The gears of government are complicated, and to put a very fine point on it, the vote the Board took on November 4th was actually to ask staff to draw up the paperwork needed to officially deny the transfer. So the official vote on the transfer will take place December 16th in Santa Maria.
Again, look for another email soon with specifics on how to deliver your comment. And below are talking points for use in your statement.
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The 350 Steering Committee Members thank you for your commitment and participation this year, and wish you a very happy December!