Climate change poses a real threat to the future of our country and state, and California is taking bold action to mitigate its harm in the coming decades. One of the most significant actions to date is an executive order signed by Governor Gavin Newsom to end the dependence on fossil fuels by requiring all new vehicles sold in California to be zero emissions by 2035.
The EPA has calculated that the most significant contributor to human-produced greenhouse gas emissions is transportation, accounting for 29 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.In California, the transportation sector is responsible for more than half of California’s carbon pollution, 80 percent of smog-forming pollution, and 95 percent of toxic diesel emissions. Recognizing this threat, Governor Newsom took executive action on September 23, 2020 to stop the sale of polluting gas-powered vehicles and move to fully electric sales by 2035. The state will transition all medium and heavy-duty trucks in the state to be zero-emission by 2045. These strategic actions accelerate the State’s pace towards its climate goals for the benefit of California’s environment, economy, and communities.
California furthered its commitment to ZEV vehicles in 2021 by:
- Joining a group of 12 Governors from across the country urging the federal government to create a pathway to ensure that all new vehicles sold in the U.S. will be zero-emission in the near future.
- Joining the COP26 Declaration on Zero-Emission Cars and Vans, a global agreement bringing together nations, states and regions, vehicle manufacturers, businesses, investors and other partners dedicated to rapidly accelerating the transition to ZEV. This global agreement aims to achieve 100% zero emission vehicle sales by 2035 in leading markets, and no later than 2040 globally.
- Leading the Transportation Decarbonisation Alliance, a unique collaboration bringing together countries, cities and companies as the major drivers in sustainable, low-carbon mobility.
- Investing $3.9 billion to accelerate our zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) goals, including funding for clean vehicle infrastructure and to help drive consumer adoption of ZEVs.
Now—more than a year after Governor Newsom signed the Executive Order driving the state towards ZEV ownership— President Biden, on December 8, 2021 signed an Executive Order that sets an ambitious goal to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 ZEV, including battery-electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles and 100 percent ZEV acquisitions of federal fleets by 2035. California’s commitment to ZEV proves again that as California goes, so does the Nation.