California regains authority to enforce stricter auto pollution standards.

• The Biden administration is giving California the power to establish its own regulations regarding greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, including cars, pickups, and SUVs.
• The decision to roll back Trump-era policies has positioned California as a leader in the fight against climate change in the US.
• California's tighter standards have been adopted by 17 states and the District of Columbia.

The Biden administration is revoking the Trump-era decision that restricted California's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, thereby positioning California as a leader in the fight against climate change in the US.

The Clean Air Act waiver that California had previously been granted has been reinstated, allowing the state to enforce stricter fuel economy standards than the federal government and set a precedent for the rest of the country in reducing vehicle emissions. The state's past success in controlling vehicle emissions has led to the development of innovative strategies in the automotive industry, such as catalytic converters, which convert harmful gases and pollutants in exhaust gas into less harmful pollutants, as well as "check engine" lights.

The transportation industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., accounting for 29% of the country's total emissions. In California, where the population is highest, numerous congested freeways release carbon pollution into the atmosphere and contribute to smoggy skies in cities like Los Angeles.

California's tighter standards have been adopted by 17 states and the District of Columbia. The California Air Resources Board will decide how to enforce them.

The Clean Air Act allows states to obtain federal approval for their own tailpipe emission standards, which California did in 1966, setting the first such standards in the country.

In 2019, the Trump administration rescinded California's autonomy to regulate its own air quality, asserting that it wouldn't permit "political agendas in a single state" to dictate national policy. This move was part of a broader effort to dismantle Obama-era automobile emissions standards and climate change regulations.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan reaffirmed California's authority to lead in reducing car and truck pollution on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of the state's partnership with others in combating climate change.

Regan announced that the approach, which has been successful in advancing clean technologies and reducing air pollution for people across the US, is being reinstated with today's action.

Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, stated that the first thing to do when clearing a traffic jam is to take your foot off the brake. Similarly, the Biden administration is reinstating California's authority under the Clean Air Act to set tailpipe standards.

The Biden administration's decision undoes one of Trump's "most unjustifiable and illogical actions."

Pallone stated that today's action is a win for everyone because the waiver helps improve air quality in communities nationwide, encourages American innovation in clean vehicle technology, and guarantees that consumers have access to the most advanced and efficient vehicles available.

The Biden administration's decision will aid California's objective of phasing out all new gas-powered passenger cars and trucks by 2035.

In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a pledge to reduce California's emissions by 35%. The state already has regulations mandating that a certain percentage of new vehicle sales must be electric or zero-emissions.

Newsom commended the Biden Administration for rectifying the Trump Administration's irresponsible actions and acknowledging their longstanding mandate to safeguard Californians and the environment.

Newsom stated that the decision is significant, emphasizing the importance of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

On Wednesday, the Clean Air Act waiver was reinstated and received praise from environmental groups.

According to Michelle Robinson, director of the Clean Transportation Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, Trump's reversal was based on a "deeply flawed understanding of the law" and hindered states' efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Robinson stated that the reinstatement of the waiver today is a significant step in the effort to safeguard essential environmental regulations that were dismantled by the Trump administration.

The Natural Resources Defense Council's director for clean vehicles and fuels, Luke Tonachel, stated that states have been at the forefront of efforts to reduce tailpipe pollution and transition the country towards cleaner vehicles.

The previous administration attempted to weaken this authority, but the law grants California and other states the right to establish standards to reduce pollution that harms their citizens' health. Restating this legal authority will safeguard public health and contribute to resolving the climate crisis.