California just took a huge and exciting step towards reducing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. Members of its Air Resources Board have
determined that, after 2035, all vehicles sold in the state must be zero-emission. That means no more gas-powered cars - and less necessity for oil drilling!
This is fantastic news for the environment, wildlife, and human health.
Now we must ask all other 49 U.S. states to follow suit! Sign the petition!Cars are one of the absolute most major contributors to overall greenhouse gas emissions. Each new petrol-powered car represents a huge step backwards for our Earth. Transportation accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. than any other sector, and more than half of that is from cars. As cars burn off the fossil fuels that are required to propel them along, pollutants exit tailpipes - sending emissions into the air, and toxins into the environment.
That's why California's decision is such a big deal. Limiting fossil fuel use for cars could not possibly be more important. Right now, climate change is crashing over our world, contributing to unprecedented numbers of devastating fires, floods, droughts, famines, heat waves, storms - and even the spread of pandemics.
On top of that,
drilling for oil - oil that we use to power gas-based vehicles - is wrecking our Earth. Oil production destroys entire habitats and ecosystems, disrupting wildlife's natural cycles. Spills at oil rigs and from cargo ships are decimating coral reefs and other marine life. Meanwhile, fracking - a brute-force way to quickly create large amounts of supposedly "cheap" fuels - utilizes secretive toxic chemicals that often seep out into water systems and poison entire communities.
It's supply and demand. We need to stop fracking and drilling for oil. So we need to reduce the demand for fossil fuels. A major way to do that is to limit the number of petroleum-fueled cars and other vehicles. As the Board wrote, "Emissions from motor vehicle engines hurt public health, welfare, the environment, and the climate in multiple interrelated ways. These emission reductions will help
stabilize the climate and reduce the risk of severe drought and wildfire and its consequent fine particulate matter pollution."
California has done the right thing by banning the sale of petroleum-powered vehicles after 2035. It's setting a precedent for healing our Earth and restoring our climate stability. But California can't control climate change on its own. We need other U.S. states to follow suit.
Sign the petition to urge state governments throughout the rest of the nation to enact a similar ban. We must phase out all new gas-powered vehicles, now, while we still have a chance to make things right!