November 21, 2019

California bans automakers siding with Trump on emission rules

topic:	Pollution
located:	USA
editor:	Yair Oded

California governor Gavin Newsom announced last week that the state will ban automakers that sided with the Trump administration in the battle over California’s right to set its own fuel efficiency standards. Newsom’s ban marks the latest development in what has become a long legal battle over states’ independence to act on climate change.

Under the Clean Air Act of 1970, states are permitted to set stricter limitations on vehicle pollution than the ones imposed by the federal government. California moved to exercise this right when the Trump administration announced that it will roll back Obama era emission standards in order to support American automakers and car buyers. 

The state was then sued by the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, asking the court to revoke California’s authority to enact its own standards. As reported by The New York Times, California retaliated last Friday by lodging its own lawsuit against the two government agencies. 

Initially, automakers remained neutral in the unfolding legal feud and refrained from siding with either of the quarreling factions. But following a public announcement in July by Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW stating that the companies will abide by California’s emission regulations, the White House applied greater pressure on other automakers, urging them to side with the government.

Finally, in October, General Motors, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and other automakers publicly announced that they will back the Trump administration in this fight.

Last week, the California Department of General Services stated that, moving forward, the state will only purchase electrical or hybrid sedans. In his announcement, Governor Newsom reiterated a section from the statement according to which, state agencies will only purchase sedans from automakers that recognise California’s right to set its own curbs on emissions – effective January 2020. “Carmakers that have chosen to be on the wrong side of history will be on the losing end of California’s buying power,” the governor said. 

It remains to be seen just how effective California’s ban will be, seeing as the state only purchases between 2,000 and 3,000 vehicles a year. Furthermore, according to The New York Times, the ban will not apply to some public safety vehicles, and the state will continue to buy certain ‘muscular vehicles’ from the banned automakers. 

That said, California’s resolve indicates how much power individual states and institutions have when it comes to challenging the federal government’s disastrous onslaught on environmental protection mechanisms.

While most states and communities do not have the same economic power as California does, they nonetheless have the option to resist and use whatever resources they have at their disposal to increase public awareness and push for local climate action. 

Image: Michael Smith/flickr/(CC BY-SA 2.0)