California gasoline-powered cars
The new order aims to reduce the demand for fossil fuel in California. Credit: Alexander Popov on Unsplash.

The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has signed an executive order to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in the state by 2035.

The new order is aimed at significantly reducing the demand for fossil fuel in California.

Newsom said: “This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change. For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe.

“Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels, threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.”

It is estimated that more than half of all of California’s carbon pollution is generated by the transportation sector, as well as 80% of smog-forming pollution and 95% of toxic diesel emissions.

The California Air Resources Board will now create new regulations making it mandatory that 100% of passenger car and truck sales are for zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

The initiative is expected to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the state by more than 35% and could result in an 80% improvement in oxides of nitrogen emissions from cars statewide.

In addition, the board is making new regulations that all operations of medium and heavy-duty vehicles will be 100% zero-emission by 2045. This new mandate will be applicable to drayage trucks in 2035.

However, the order will not refrain Californians from owning gasoline-powered cars or selling them on the used car market.