Senator Henry Stern calls for Southern California to secure a fair share of Cap-and-Trade revenues, pointing to the region’s heavy congestion, pollution, and transit needs. Linking transit investment directly to public health, Stern underscores how transit funding is critical for clean air and climate action as well as mobility.

VX News interviewed Michael Colvin, Director of California Energy Program at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), to elaborate on the impetus behind the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative and current status of SB 540, California’s latest legislative effort to implement a western regional day-ahead electricity market.

As clean energy investment slows and startup valuations fall, seasoned investors are repositioning — not retreating. VX News excerpts the latest episode of Open Circuit by Latitude Media, focusing on the contributions of climate finance veteran Jigar Shah, as he describes how a market once bloated by hype is now ripe with more disciplined opportunity.

Representing California's 44th District, in this timely interview, Assemblymember Nick Schultz reflects on his transition from local office to state government and the challenges amid fiscal constraints and climate urgency. Schultz emphasizes the importance of proactive constituent engagement, independent legislative thinking, and ensuring that local governments are equipped with both the mandates and resources needed to deliver results.

VX News presents excerpted highlights from a recent VerdeXchange Conference panel, “Supply Chains Going Forward,” hosted by the World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTC-LA), and moderated by Stephen Cheung, President & CEO of LAEDC and WTC-LA. The panel featured Andrea Sasse, Consul General of Germany; Kenko Sone, Consul General of Japan; Wendy Wagner, Head of Canada’s International Trade Group at Gowling WLG; and Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Consul General of Finland.

Six months following the onset of the devastating Palisades and Eaton Wildfires in Los Angeles, TPR spoke with City of Los Angeles’ Department of Building & Safety General Manager Osama Younan about the department’s critical role in both emergency response and the long-term rebuilding efforts in the Palisades. Reflecting on interagency coordination and the importance of balancing speed with safety in restoring fire-impacted communities, Younan highlights the efforts to help residents and builders navigate the recovery process while ensuring code compliance including rapid deployment of inspection teams, creation of a dedicated rebuild permit review unit, and launch of the self-certification pilot program.