California driving change

California’s large population, robust and diversified economy, and long history of innovative vehicle policies make the state a national leader in the fight for cleaner vehicles. Policies developed here are often adopted by other states and serve as a model for federal regulations.

For example, the hybrid vehicles now popular nationwide and the hydrogen-powered vehicles being tested today are a direct result of California's Zero Emission Vehicle program. The state has also launched a Hydrogen Highways initiative focused on ensuring that hydrogen fuel will be available as automakers bring zero-emission cars to market.

California was also the first state or nation to enact standards aimed at reducing global warming emissions from vehicles. Unlike the federal government, California has acknowledged the fact that roughly one-third of all carbon dioxide emissions in the United States come from transportation sources; the percentage is even higher (40 percent) in the Golden State.

California has also been a national leader in cleaning up the dirty diesel engines used in buses, big rigs, and heavy equipment. After estimating that diesel soot was responsible for 70 percent of the state’s risk of cancer from airborne toxics, for example, California implemented a plan that calls for reducing soot 85 percent below 2000 levels by 2020. The regulations designed to meet these goals, including requirements for low-sulfur diesel fuel, emission standards for new diesel engines, and pollution controls for old engines, have become models for national action. The same holds true for voluntary incentive funding programs introduced in California to help clean up diesel emissions.

UCS plays a vital role in helping to shape and promote California’s innovative vehicle policies—policies that will clean our air and put the brakes on global warming.