Currently, the regulation by the state is to ban all new
internal combustion engine ("ICE") heavy-duty vehicles ("HDVs") by
2045. Existing vehicles will be allowed to continue to operate.
However, due to how long modern ICE HDVs last, a ban by that date
will not make meeting the mandate of carbon neutrality by 2050
under the Paris Climate Agreement possible. Most modern ICE HDVs
last around 1,000,000 miles before needing replacement, which is
around 12-15 years with the normal annual mileage. So, it is
recommended that the ICE ban for new HDVs be pushed forward to no
later than 2038, preferably 2035, in order to be able to meet the
target of net zero emissions by 2050 under the Paris Climate
Accord.
This is an extremely vital mandate to comply
with because anthropogenic climate change ("AGCC") is an
existential threat to the human species, which will do so by
drastically worsening droughts and increasing wildfires by an
unimaginably huge amount, consequently severely dwindling food
supplies all over the globe. We've already seen the unprecedented
string of wildfires and heat waves since 2017, and even that (the
present) is still nothing compared to what will come if society
continues on pumping out greenhouse gases at the current rate. This
means that the worst is still yet to come. As a result, I strongly
urge CARB under CalEPA to take urgent drastic action by banning all
new combustion engines outside of light-duty vehicles starting by
2035. Even the State of Washington is doing so by just 5 years
after that date (2040), so the State of California, which has
historically lead on environmental protection regulations, should
not let itself fall behind other states.
I would
appreciate feedback.
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