President Trump reverses California’s authority to set stricter emissions rules. Twenty-three states fight back.
Summary
President Trump has formally revoked California’s ability to set its own emission standards.
This waiver affects roughly 35% of the US auto market.
This will impact 13 states, including Washington D.C., that pledged to follow California’s standards. (Section 177 States).
California is now suing the Trump administration with the backing of 22 other states.
On Friday, California filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration with the backing of 22 states to reverse Trump’s decision of removing California’s ability to set its own emission rules which other states are allowed to follow.
What are California’s emission standards?
California’s strict emission standards are to combat climate change. Scott Wiener, a California state senator, said that 40% of California’s carbon emissions are from transportation, mainly private autos, and to combat this California wants to set stricter emission standards. Several automobile manufacturers have supported California’s decision for stricter emissions after coming to an agreement. BMW, VW, Ford and Honda, which represent 35% of the U.S. car market came to an agreement with California to manufacture automobiles with higher fuel efficiency, which would reduce emissions. California was then joined by 12 other states who wanted to also reduce their emissions.
That’s 113 million Americans and 35% of the U.S. auto market all coming together for cleaner air (which also reduces health care costs), cleaner cars, and to boost their economies in the name of a greener U.S.
Why can California set its own standards?
California's authority comes in the form of a waiver to the Clean Air Act. Because California is allowed to set its own standards through this waiver, other states may follow suit and use California's standard giving the state of California a lot of control and power over nationwide standards. California gained this waiver due to its past of being a state filled with smog and bad history of heavy air pollution.
Why would the federal government want to stop these 13 states from reducing pollution, combating climate change and reducing the amount of emissions their states produce?
Federal regulators are currently working on their own emission rules that they said could ease requirements made under the Obama administration. They also said their regulations would give drivers access to cheaper, safer cars whilst giving certainty to car manufacturers so that they can comply with anti-pollution rules with their future cars.
Why is California upset if the federal regulators are putting together their own emissions rules?
An analysis by Consumer Reports highlights the possibility that the new rules would actually increase fuel costs for consumers and lower the sales of automobiles by reducing the spending power of the consumer. Alongside this would be the potential for less road safety and more road accidents.
They are also upset because for 50 years they have been allowed to set their own emission standards due to their horrific polluted past they want to avoid. The Golden State has received 40 waivers since the 1970's to allow them to lead the charge against air pollution, but now this is being threatened at a time where many in the world are trying to reduce the effects of global warming and become more sustainable.
Will the lawsuit preventing Trump win?
It is possible, legal experts have said, that Trump will have to overcome several hurdles as California waivers are clearly written in legislation. The history of California fighting such decisions made by the federal government has shown to be futile, as George W. Bush tried to deny California a waiver in 2007 which was later dropped as Obama came to office. Overall the lawsuit could take months, possibly even years, as California’s governor Gavin Newsom, the state attorney Xavier Becerra and the head of the California Air Resources Board have said in a press conference that they will fight back.
Source(s):
http://calcleancars.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Clean-Cars-Campaign-State-Backgrounder.pdf
https://www.transportpolicy.net/standard/us-section-177-states/
https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview
https://www.wsj.com/articles/led-by-california-states-sue-dot-over-tailpipe-emissions-dispute-11569004041?yptr=yahoo
https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Summary-for-Policymakers-CRs-unSAFE-Rule-1.pdf