California governor caught in eye of storm over climate budget cuts

Announcement drew criticism from environmentalists as Gavin Newsom proposes cutting $6bn from unprecedented' climate fund

Facing a budget shortfall, California's governor Gavin Newsom proposed billions of dollars in cuts to climate spending - slashing subsidies for electric vehicles, funding for clean energy, wildfire prevention and programs to help low income residents cope with extreme weather.

The Democratic governor's announcement, which came amidst a week of torrential rains, deadly winds and flooding, drew sharp criticism from environmentalists. Facing a potential $22.5bn budget deficit, Newsom has suggested pulling back $3bn to address inflation and $750m to pay down unemployment insurance debt. But the bulk of his spending cuts slash programs for climate crisis and transportation.