Zero-Emission Vehicles to Be Mandated in California With Newsom's New Order
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Wednesday requiring all new cars sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
The order aims to phase out cars with internal combustion engines in 15 years as it mandates all new passenger cars and trucks sold in California by 2035 to be zero-emission vehicles.
According to Newsom, California could reduce carbon pollution in the transportation sector with this move. The transportation sector contributes to more than half of the state's total greenhouse emissions.
California is currently battling some of the worst wildfires in the state's recent history. For many decades, Newsom noted that they have allowed cars to pollute the air that children and families breathe.
Newsom said California residents should not have to worry if cars are giving children 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," Newsom added in a report.
Newsom has been vocal about the need to address climate change, especially in response to the ongoing wildfires. The current wildfires have burned over 3.6 million acres in the state and caused at least 26 deaths.
Following the order, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will develop regulations to mandate that all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state are zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
Newsom said this shift could decrease the state's greenhouse gas emissions from cars by more than 35 percent.
The order further directs the CARB to adopt regulations for medium-and heavy-duty vehicle operations to be zero-emission by 2045.
Newsom's office released a statement saying that the zero-emission vehicles will be cheaper than gasoline-powered cars by the time the newly signed order goes into effect.
"We will use our market power to push zero-emission vehicle innovation and drive down costs for everyone," Newsom said. However, the order does not prevent California residents from owning cars with internal combustion or bar from purchasing on the used car market.
Meanwhile, five of the six largest wildfires in California are still raging. The state's most aggressive fire, August Complex, has so far burned around 860,000 acres of NorCal's Tehama County.
The SCU Lightning Complex has consumed 396,624 acres.The North Complex, on the other hand, has burned 301,404 acres if Butte, Plumas, and Yuma counties.
Creek Fire, the youngest of the blazes, have started earlier this month and has scorched away 289,695 acres of Fresno and Madera counties. The destruction is expected to grow.
People cause most of the fires in California. The El Dorado Fire has grown to more than 10,000 acres. It started when a family used a "pyrotechnic device" to announce the gender of a new baby.
Many others are caused by more human actions, like driving a car that sends soot into dry vegetation. This was the case at the Apple Fire in Southern California this year.
Others have been caused by power transmission lines or other utility equipment.
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