Story perspectives

CalEnviroScreen Criticized for Overlooking Disadvantaged Communities

2/7/2026

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Summary

Story summary

CalEnviroScreen allocates cap-and-invest funds to disadvantaged communities and has received over $5.8 billion since 2015.
Recent updates add indicators such as diabetes prevalence, but critics say essential data remain missing, leaving some communities overlooked.
Environmental advocates say state agencies do not use CalEnviroScreen aggressively enough to deny permits to polluters.
About 80% of designated disadvantaged communities remain unchanged, and researchers say the methodology may inadvertently exclude areas from funding.

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Story summary

CalEnviroScreen allocates cap-and-invest funds to disadvantaged communities and has received over $5.8 billion since 2015.
Recent updates add indicators such as diabetes prevalence, but critics say essential data remain missing, leaving some communities overlooked.
Environmental advocates say state agencies do not use CalEnviroScreen aggressively enough to deny permits to polluters.
About 80% of designated disadvantaged communities remain unchanged, and researchers say the methodology may inadvertently exclude areas from funding.