Combating climate change
December 13, 2024
California’s massive carbon pollution is the consequence of smog-forming pollution and toxic diesel emissions––all of which are under the responsibility of the state’s transportation sector. In the fight against climate change, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his commitment to lessen the state’s reliance on the roots of the problem––fossil fuels. In these efforts, the California governor promised “To achieve our world-leading climate goals we have to accelerate projects that will power our homes with clean energy, safeguard our drinking water, build homes next to transit and jobs, rebuild our roads and transportation system, and protect communities from worsening extreme weather.” Following suit, the Biden administration will execute the most demanding climate change policy the world has ever seen in the upcoming week. President Biden plans to grant California permission to ban the selling of gasoline-powered cars after 2035 permanently. In addition to personal vehicles, the mandate includes zero-emission standards for the trucking industry as well as commercial vehicles by 2042.
The success of this policy is crucial as California plays a significant role in the auto market. For example, multiple states have implemented California’s standards for reducing tailpipe pollution. Altogether, as many as 12 other countries follow the state’s emission regulation and the United State’s auto market is heavily active in the global industry.
However, Trump responded to this act by saying, “California has imposed the most ridiculous car regulations anywhere in the world, with mandates to move to all-electric cars. I will terminate that.” Trump has declared climate change as a “hoax” since his first term in 2016, and he is determined to retract as many climate change regulations as possible. Regardless, public health advocates are praising California for requesting eight waivers enforcing efforts to decelerate the effects of climate change. These rules are aimed at––and have been––reducing pollution by preventing light-duty vehicles by 2037.
Nevertheless, California is showing gradual but evident improvements in combating the climate issue. The Golden State is undoubtedly a commander in shifting toward electric vehicles; California has exceeded two million zero-emissions vehicles sold and five of its cities have the most electric-vehicle users in all of the United States. As President Biden attempts to enforce a Trump-proof legacy before his presidential term ends, the next four years are bound to come with changes. Even so, with the promising, new gasoline-car-banning mandates put in place, California is striving toward decreasing the usage of fossil fuels and an overall improvement in combating climate change.