Surely, human beings are, by far, the smartest species to ever walk the earth, but that hasn’t really kept them from making a mistake every now and then. This has already been proven quite a few times throughout our history, with each testimony practically forcing us to look for a defensive cover. To the world’s credit, we will find just the right answer to our conundrum by bringing regulatory bodies into the fold. Having a well-defined authority across each and every area was a game-changer, as it instantly concealed a lot of our shortcomings, thus allowing us to achieve things that we couldn’t even conceived otherwise. However, sadly enough, the whole utopia was also pretty short-lived, and if we are to address the reasons behind that, it was all technology’s fault. You see, the moment technology and its layered nature took over the scene; it gave people an unprecedented chance at exploiting others for their own benefit. In case this in itself wasn’t enough, the stated dynamic will soon start to materialize on such a scale that it will end up overwhelming our regulatory structure. Nevertheless, after much hullabaloo, a comeback finally seems to be on the cards, and the same is proven by a recent decision on gas-powered vehicles.
Amidst the raging discussion about climate change, California Air Resources Board has made a huge statement by banning the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in the state. The rule comes two years after Governor Gavin Newsom shared an intention to put-together “passenger vehicle and truck regulations requiring increasing volumes of new zero-emission vehicles sold in the state towards the target of 100 percent of in-state sales by 2035.” As indicated earlier, the new regulation will break down the bigger ambition into smaller and much more realistic goals. For instance, by 2026, 35 percent of new car sales in the state must be electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids or models with hydrogen fuel cells. By 2030, however, the stated figure must reach the mark of 68 percent before finally taking over the whole pie by 2035. This new framework is expected to trigger a whopping 50 percent drop in pollution from light trucks and cars over the next two decades. Assuming the drop actually happens, it will be a massive win for California, as the transportation sector is responsible for most of its greenhouse gas emissions.
“The climate crisis is solvable if we focus on the big, bold steps necessary to stem the tide of carbon pollution,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “California now has a groundbreaking, world-leading plan to achieve 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. It’s ambitious, it’s innovative, it’s the action we must take if we’re serious about leaving this planet better off for future generations.”
While California has been the one to take that all-important lead, other US states are understood to be keen on joining the cause sooner rather than later.