California Clean Cars Campaign

July 31, 2008 – Eight in 10 Californians support the Clean Cars law, according to the latest Public Policy Institute of California poll.
June 24, 2008 – Automakers lose in court — again.
January 10, 2008 – U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer holds a field hearing in Los Angeles on the EPA’s recent waiver denial.
January 2, 2008 – California and 15 other states sue to reverse the EPA waiver denial.

December 19, 2007 – Bush administration EPA denies California clean cars waiver.
December 11, 2007 – California wins in U.S. District Court. Judge dismisses automaker lawsuit, opens door for AB 1493 in global warming fight.

Global warming threatens California's health and air quality, environment, way of life and economy, especially key industries such as agriculture and tourism. The state faces threats of increased air pollution, wildfires, floods, drought and temperature swings, and local and state government face potentially significant emergency response and mitigation costs.

These threats compelled the state to take action to reduce global warming pollution, starting with passenger vehicles, which account for about 40 percent of the state's global warming emissions.

Predictably, the automakers are fighting to halt implementation of new standards adopted in fall of 2004 by the California Air Resources Board. The standards require carmakers to reduce global warming emissions from new passenger cars and light trucks beginning in 2009. Carmakers have eight years to comply with the new standards, which will cut emissions of global warming pollutants by approximately 30 percent once they are fully phased in by 2016, while actually saving consumers money over the life of the vehicle.

Automakers have launched an attack on the state's right to protect its citizens from auto pollution. In December 2004, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers filed a lawsuit to block California from implementing its groundbreaking vehicle global warming standards. The AAM represents GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and others. The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, which includes Honda and other foreign manufacturers, joined the suit as well.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to strongly defend challenges to the law.

The California Clean Cars Campaign, a project of the state's leading health, environmental and public interest groups, is working to defend California's vehicle global warming pollution standards. Follow the links to learn more about global warming and its effect on California; the legal challenges facing California; how the state is leading the nation and world once again with this groundbreaking regulation; and related actions taken by Canada and other states.