The state of California is taking a bold step in the fight against climate change by requiring nearly half of all heavy truck sales to be electric by 2035. This move is part of the state’s efforts to cut emissions and improve air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the plan, which will gradually phase out the use of carbon-emitting heavy trucks in California.
The announcement was made on Friday, and it marks one of the most ambitious efforts by a US state to reduce emissions in the transportation sector. This sector is responsible for about 40% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions. The state hopes that its plan will encourage other states to follow suit.
California has a history of pushing for stronger emissions rules, and Governor Gavin Newsom hopes that this latest effort will have a cascading effect. According to Newsom’s office, eight other states have signaled their intention to adopt similar measures. In August, California joined 15 other states, plus the District of Columbia, in signing a letter urging the EPA to approve California’s truck standards.
Newsom has also approved a ban on the sale of new cars exclusively reliant on petrol by 2035, a rule that is still being considered for approval by the EPA. However, a group of 17 Republican attorneys general have filed legal challenges against California’s ability to enact pollution standards that are stronger than those in place at the federal level.
The new rules approved on Friday will focus on companies that build trucks, as well as those that use a large number of them for business operations. Companies with fleets of 50 or more trucks will be required to share information about their use with the state. For manufacturers, zero-emission trucks will have to comprise between 40 and 75 percent of sales, depending on the class of vehicle, by 2035.
Industry groups have pushed back against such efforts, stating that they will impose cumbersome regulations on the industry and heap additional burdens on businesses that rely on trucking. However, environmental and social justice groups have welcomed the announcement, stating that it will help cut harmful pollutants in parts of the state, especially in low-income communities with high levels of trucking activity.
“The burdens of freight transportation are falling disproportionately on low-income communities of color who have to breathe air polluted by these diesel trucks in areas like ports or distribution centers where there is a lot of activity,” said Bill Magavern, a spokesperson for the Coalition for Clean Air. “Transportation is the biggest source of air pollution in the state.”
Overall, California’s efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality are commendable. While there may be some pushback from industry groups, it is important to prioritize the health and well-being of communities over the interests of businesses. Hopefully, other states will follow California’s lead and take similar steps to combat climate change.