Nurses have long been on the forefront of advocating for our patients’ health and wellbeing and now there’s an opportunity for California Nurses to join a critically important campaign to protect families across the State.
California enjoys a reputation for being environmentally aware and leading the country in climate solutions, from rooftop solar to EVs to community composting. What many don’t realize is that California is also a major oil and gas producing state and we lag beyond other states in terms of protecting our communities from the harmful impacts of oil and gas wells.
Living near oil wells increases a range of serious health impacts, including asthma, birth defects, high risk pregnancies, respiratory illnesses and cancer. That’s why, in 2015, the California Council on Science and Technology recommended a science-based setback to protect public health. We simply shouldn’t have oil and gas wells in our neighborhoods.
In spite of the well documented impacts of neighborhood drilling, there are currently nearly 30,000 oil wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, hospitals and other sensitive sites across the State. Over two million Californians are exposed to hazardous oil and gas emissions linked to these sites. Most are in low-income communities, and people of color are disproportionately harmed by neighborhood drilling. This is an issue of public health, climate and environmental justice.
For years, public health advocates, climate justice organizations and neighborhood groups have advocated for an end to this neighborhood drilling and the creation of a protective health and safety buffer between communities and oil drilling sites. This is backed by both science and basic common sense. Our kids should not be playing and learning alongside oil and gas operations! California Nurses have always been invaluable members of this broad campaign.
In 2022, the CA Legislature and Governor finally passed a bill (SB 1137) to protect California families from the harmful effects of oil and gas pollution. This new law would end the permitting of new oil and gas operations next to homes, schools, playgrounds, and hospitals and would require stringent safety modifications of existing wells. It would drastically improve the health and environment of communities adjacent to oil operations.
While environmental justice and public health advocates were celebrating this new law, Big Oil was already scheming on how to overturn it and keep drilling in our communities. Oil industries spent over $20 million collecting signatures to qualify a referendum to overturn the law in the 2024 election and are committed to spending millions more to protect their ability to drill alongside where we live, work, play and pray.
The Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California
The Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California is a coalition of public health leaders, environmental justice groups, climate advocates, community and faith leaders, and youth joining together to stand up to Big Oil and ensure this hard-fought victory for health and safety buffer zones around toxic oil drilling is upheld. We believe no Californian should have to live just steps from dangerous oil and gas wells. And we need your help!
Big Oil is doubling down, spending millions and creating misleading advertisements to convince California voters to reject this law, in spite of the commonsense and scientifically proven benefits it brings to the health of Californian communities. Our coalition is urging Californians to vote to “KEEP THE LAW.” We will not let Big Oil hijack our democracy and undermine public health.
There are many ways that California Nurses can get involved. Talk to your patients and colleagues about the importance of voting to “KEEP THE LAW.” Share information about the campaign on your social media, hospital newsletters and letters to the editor. Join other Nurses who are speaking out at rallies, in the media, and at community events. Nurses are among the most trusted messengers in society, and with your help, we can KEEP THE LAW and ensure a safe and healthy California.
Learn more and Join the Campaign!
The Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California is recruiting health professions to join the campaign. Sign up here: CAvsBigOil.com/health
The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) works with nurses and health organizations across the country on the CA Big Oil referendum and lots more! You can sign up for their newsletter here, we will be sending out updates and opportunities for action.
Physicians for Social Responsibility-LA connects communities and caregivers on a range of environmental, health and justice issues including protecting communities from oil and gas operations.
Heath Care without Harm and ANHE have created a Nurses Climate Challenge, which has lots of resources specifically for nurses. You can find it here: Nurses Climate Challenge | Nurses Climate Challenge
Those working in hospitals can learn more about the interventions your institution can take on climate through Practice Greenhealth’s Climate Action Playbook: Climate action playbook for hospitals | Practice Greenhealth
- Contributed by Annie Leonard
