Roundup: California secures waivers for stricter emission standards amid political uncertainty

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday granted California two waivers, empowering the state to enforce vehicle emissions standards exceeding federal regulations.

SACRAMENTO, the United States, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday granted California two waivers, empowering the state to enforce vehicle emissions standards exceeding federal regulations, including a plan to phase out sales of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035.

This decision marks a significant triumph for California's environmental ambitions but faces an uncertain future. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, set to assume office next month, has repeatedly pledged to revoke such waivers, raising the prospect of policy reversals that could reshape the regulatory landscape.

The waivers were requested by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), a state government agency in charge of reducing air pollution, to implement two regulations: the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) for light-duty vehicles and the "Omnibus" regulation targeting heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines.

Under the ACC II framework, California aims for 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. CARB clarified that this does not equate to an outright ban on fossil-fueled vehicles, as residents will still be able to own and operate existing gasoline-powered cars.

The Omnibus regulation seeks to slash heavy-duty low-nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 90 percent, a critical step in reducing smog-forming pollutants. CARB estimates public health benefits from the initiative could yield savings of 23 billion U.S. dollars, stemming from reduced illnesses.

The legal foundation for these waivers goes back to the 1970 Clean Air Act, which granted California special authority to establish its own vehicle emission standards due to the state's unique air quality challenges. However, the state must obtain EPA approval to implement emissions rules that exceed federal standards. Other states may adopt California's emissions policies, and more than a dozen have done so, with increasing alignment on zero-emission goals.

"California has longstanding authority to request waivers from the EPA to protect its residents from dangerous air pollution coming from mobile sources like cars and trucks," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in a news release. "Today's actions follow through on the EPA's commitment to partner with states to reduce emissions and act on the threat of climate change."

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the EPA's decision as a reaffirmation of the state's decades-long authority to combat air pollution and address climate change.

"Clean cars are here to stay," Newsom said in a statement, highlighting growing consumer demand for electric vehicles and the auto industry's increasing shift towards zero-emission technologies.

The U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of governors representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy, praised the EPA's decision, noting that the waiver approval benefits not only California but all states and territories choosing to adopt the ACC II rule.

While environmental groups and public health advocates welcomed the waivers, the regulations face significant criticism from industry stakeholders. Critics questioned the feasibility of achieving 100 percent EV sales by 2035, with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation describing California's clean car mandate as "an unaccountable, unachievable regulatory wormhole."

CARB, however, maintained that the goal was attainable, citing recent data showing that clean vehicles represent 26 percent of sales in California, with over 2 million zero-emission passenger cars sold.

The oil industry has also voiced strong opposition to California's clean vehicle plan. Western States Petroleum Association President and CEO Catherine Reheis-Boyd criticized the EPA's decision, arguing that the clean vehicle mandate disregarded voters' concerns about affordability and unfairly burdens working families while limiting consumer choice.

The celebration of the waivers may be short-lived. The incoming Trump administration has vowed to challenge California's authority to set its own emissions standards. During his first term, Trump revoked California's waivers in 2019, a move that was later reversed by the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in 2022.