CBE's early combination of grassroots organizing with research and legal work provided the innovative edge needed to challenge large-scale industries and refineries, and government policies.
CBE focuses on urban areas with a disproportionate concentration of low-income communities who are experiencing poor environmental health conditions due to heavy pollution from refineries, ports, power plants, freeways, etc.
[3] CBE promotes environmental and social sustainability as an intrinsic right to ensure that all humans have access to clean air and drinking water, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, culture, ability, nationality, or income.
[6] CBE pressured Bay Area Quality Management District to reevaluate the permit granted to Kaiser Cement and Gypsum Corporation resulting in sulfur dioxide reduction by 50% and limiting use of perchloroethylene, aka Tetrachloroethylene, in Vallejo, California, which is used in the dry-cleaning process.
[11] Rule 1402, included in the South Coast Air Quality Management District was the state's goal in 1994 to reduce public health risk from cancerous and noncancerous emissions by large industries.
Chevron is the largest employer in town but as CBE research has shown, compared with the statewide average for all business activity oil refining creates ten times fewer jobs.
Beginning in 1997, the sub-program, Youth for Environmental Justice has extended its reach over the past few years, from demonstrating its influence in Sacramento, the state capital; to providing support at the grassroot march in Paris 2016.
[34] Over 35 community-based organizations, including CBE, make up the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA) where they work towards the usage of sustainable energy in local communities.
[36] CBE focuses on the people employed by toxic facilities and works with Don't Waste LA, in order to create a proposal for community protection to further exposure.
[39] It is also a member of the Bay Area Environmental Health Collaborative (BAEHC) working towards the reduction of pollution in vulnerable low income communities of color.
[45][46] Internationally, CBE is mentioned in UK news outlet, The Guardian, as a key leader with Asian Pacific Environmental Network in fighting refinery and industry expansion.
CBE is sponsoring the Charge Ahead Campaign which will "help put one million electric cars, trucks and busses on California's roads, reducing air pollution, improving health and saving money".
[49][50] Charge Ahead is sponsored by several organizations and designated $200 million from the states cap and trade auctions, whereby CBE advocates for low income communities of color's access to zero emission transportation.