Kirsten Snow Spalding is the California Director for Ceres, which advocates for sustainability leadership. Ceres mobilizes a powerful network of investors, companies and public interest groups to accelerate and expand the adoption of sustainable business practices and solutions to build a healthy global economy.

Prior to joining Ceres, Kirsten served as Chief Deputy Treasurer under California Treasurer Phil Angelides and Director of the Treasurer’s environmental financing authorities. She previously worked in the labor movement as Chief of Staff for the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. With the California Sierra Club and the Ella Baker Center, Kirsten co-founded the California Apollo Alliance. And for six years, she chaired the Center for Labor Research and Education at University of California, Berkeley and taught at Boalt Hall School of Law.  

Learn more about Kirsten.

Pricing Carbon, Growing Jobs in California

by Kirsten Snow Spalding

Kirsten Snow Spalding

The looming fiscal cliff has prompted renewed debate over the idea of a carbon tax – a way of putting a price on the carbon pollution that leads to climate change. Some say a carbon tax would raise funds that would create jobs and boost the American economy while helping to tackling climate change. Others warn it would give government too much control over the energy sector. 

Here in California, we didn’t wait for the folks in Washington to make up their minds – we’re already implementing a carbon price. Our landmark clean energy and climate law, AB 32, led to a successful first auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits that raised $290 million for the state in November. These funds will go to a variety of investments in energy efficiency, greener infrastructure, clean energy jobs, and other priorities that focus on making life better for all Californians.