Dear CA Air Resources Board,
As a Calf. resident of
60+ years, I implore you to restore California’s leadership
on clean cars by accelerating the state’s transition to 100%
electric vehicles and strengthening requirements on new gas-powered
vehicles.
We all realize the high % of climate pollution
that gas-powered cars and trucks contribute to greenhouse gas
emissions in California. Vehicles with ICEs are a massive driver of
the climate emergency. I am an early EV adopter: my very first new
vehicle purchase was of my 2011 Nissan Leaf ten years ago, and I
have no regrets from a car owner standpoint.
Historically, we’ve led the nation on setting strong auto
emissions standards — but the current clean cars proposal
falls short of the climate action we need.
If we
don’t reach 100% zero-emission vehicle sales until 2035, it
will be too late for California to meet its goal of carbon
neutrality by 2045. The car manufacturers are getting the message
already - so let's move up that target to 2030 and give our state a
better chance of meeting its climate goals and remaining a global
leader on clean cars. We need to take immediate action to make sure
they emit less pollutants as they drive our roads for decades.
This action is also critical to protect the health of
communities hit hardest by tailpipe pollution. Cancer-causing
vehicle exhaust harms people's health and particularly hurts
low-income communities of color near congested freeways.
California must lead the way with strong policy solutions to end
tailpipe pollution and build an environmentally just transportation
system. New clean car standards must ensure equitable access to
electric vehicles.
We urge you to adopt strong clean car
rules that require:
• 100% zero-emission vehicle
sales by 2030. • 7% annual pollution cuts from
gas-powered cars in the meantime. • Mandatory equity
commitments to ensure that communities most affected by pollution
benefit from electric vehicles first and foremost.
This
transition is a tremendous opportunity to create family-supporting
jobs for Californians. We urge you to seize this moment and adopt
nation-leading clean car standards that slash climate pollution,
ensure equity, and promote good jobs.
Sincerely,
Sincerely, Marcia Edelen Berkeley, CA 94704
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