Today marks one year since the start of the devastating wildfires that tore through Los Angeles – destroying thousands of homes, causing billions of dollars in damages, and taking the lives of many Californians. 

Food & Water Watch Southern California Senior Organizer Andrea Vega released the following statement: 

“It has been a year since Los Angeles faced the destructive wildfires that were certainly made worse because of the dry conditions brought on by fossil-fuel driven climate change. In this past year, we’ve seen our state leaders walk back their climate promises or actively undermine our bedrock climate laws. 

“However, we’ve also seen incredible leadership from our local elected officials, our youth, and countless Californians who have made it clear that we won’t stand for polluters decimating our communities and driving more, and worse, disasters – all while they’re raking in massive, unprecedented profits. We call on our state leaders to use 2026 to course correct and hold polluters accountable for the damage they inflict on our health and economy. Regular Californians should not be the ones paying to clean up the mess corporate polluters make.”

In 2025, California’s leaders weakened or walked back numerous climate laws and efforts including gutting the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and unleashing more oil drilling in the already polluted Kern County.