California voters are grappling with rising costs, climate-driven disasters, and growing uncertainty about the state's energy and environmental future. California's next governor will take up the state's long tradition of environmental leadership at a time of heightened complexity and competing priorities.

To elevate climate policy in the gubernatorial conversation, Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) at UC Berkeley Law in partnership with California Environmental Voters and The Climate Center Action Fund, hosted a gubernatorial forum on January 28, 2026. Invitations were extended to the top six candidates based on public polling; four candidates accepted and participated in the forum.

The discussion focused on California’s climate leadership, energy transition, transportation, resilience, and clean energy. A recording of the forum is available here.