California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced a new climate change strategy that would ban new oil drilling near homes, schools and hospitals in the state.

In his remarks announcing the proposal, Newsom framed the plan as designed to meet the twin goals of protecting public health from pollution while reducing California’s use of fossil fuels.

“Our reliance on fossil fuels has resulted in more kids getting asthma, more children born with birth defects, and more communities exposed to toxic, dangerous chemicals. California is taking a significant step to protect the more than 2 million residents who live within a half-mile of oil drilling sites, many in low-income and communities of color,” said Newsom at a press conference.

“We are committed to protecting public health, the economy and our environment as we transition to a greener future that reckons with the realities of the climate crisis we’re all facing.”

California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot praised the governor's strategy in his own statement. He described it as a direct response to the threat of extreme weather events like the wildfires, heatwaves and droughts that have plagued the state in recent years.

“Californians are experiencing what scientists have been explaining for decades: climate change is accelerating and threatening our communities and way of life,” said Crowfoot.

“This Adaptation Strategy directly responds to these threats. It links together several important efforts already underway to protect people and nature from climate change and prioritizes additional actions we must take. Simply put, there’s no time to waste."

The new rules have not been finalized yet and remain open for public comment until Nov. 17. If they are adopted, it would forbid new drilling permits within 3,200 feet of communities but it would not require existing sites to uproot and move.

Instead, these oil drillers will be required to follow a new set of regulations. These include developing comprehensive leak detection and response plans, requirements for new technology that allows for vapor recovery, and water sampling that together aim to limit health effects such as asthma and pregnancy complications. The state estimates that up to 2 million Californians live within half a mile of a drilling site.

Members of the oil and gas sector said that they opposed Newsom’s proposal, arguing that they would be harmful to Californian consumers in the end. Catherine Reheis-Boyd, the CEO and President of the Western States Petroleum Association, accused the governor of leading through “fear and division” by caving to climate activists’ demands and ignoring the input of industry when crafting the new regulation.

“It’s time we call these series of actions, bans, rules and mandates what they are; an activist assault on California’s way of life, economy and people,” said Reheis-Boyd.

“The proposed rule’s true setbacks will be imposed upon California’s families, workers and businesses that need affordable, reliable energy every day."

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