Dear CA Air Resources Board,
The current clean cars
proposal falls short of the climate action we need. I urge you to
accelerate California's transition to 100% electric vehicles and
strengthen requirements on new gas-powered vehicles.
Forty percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in California
comes from gas-powered transportation. These polluting vehicles not
only harm our communities, they are a massive driver of the climate
emergency -- devastating our state with deadlier, more damaging
wildfires, heat waves, and what seems now to be an endless state of
drought.
Many new vehicles last 20 years or
longer. 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. Moving that target from 2035 to 2030
will give our state a better chance of meeting its climate goals,
improving our health, and remaining a global leader on clean
cars.
While we are waiting to reach that target in 2030,
California must take immediate action to make sure the new
gas-powered cars continue to emit fewer pollutants. Cancer-causing
vehicle exhaust harms people's health and particularly hurts
low-income communities of color forced to live and work near
congested freeways.
Don't just rest on your laurels.
California must continue to lead the way with strong policy
solutions to end tailpipe pollution and build an environmentally
just transportation system. New clean car standards must also
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, and have access to lowest-cost charging
infrastructure.
This transition is a tremendous
opportunity to create family-supporting, high-road jobs for
Californians. We urge you to seize this moment and adopt
nation-leading clean car standards that slash climate pollution,
ensure equity, protect our health, and promote good jobs.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Vanessa Warheit
El
Cerrito, CA 94530
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