California Gov. Gavin Newsom this week announced an all-state prohibition on new gas and diesel vehicle sales until 2035. It was announced in an executive decree that was issued on Wednesday and is designed to boost California’s efforts to fight climate change and decrease its dependence on fossil fuels.
The state is known for its automobile culture (and, in turn, its traffic congestion and pollution), and California is the first state to implement these restrictions across the United States. More than 30 cities and countries across the globe have made proposals for prohibiting the sale of cars powered by fossil fuels with the intention of reducing risk to health, achieving the targets for greenhouse gases, and gaining energy independence.
“This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change,” Newsom declared in an announcement. “For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse — and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.”
After 15 years, 100 % of sales in the state of New passenger vehicles and trucks will be emission-free -that is, hydrogen or battery-powered. The comprehensive plan also requires that drayage vehicles,-road vehicles, and other equipment become emission-free in 2035. Medium and heavy-duty cars, for instance, should eliminate internal combustion engines in 2045. The regulations only apply to the new gasoline- or diesel-powered cars that are sold in the state after the ban takes force. Vehicles registered prior to 2035 will be street-legal.
