Capitol Voice March 2022

Given the worsening climate crisis and the unacceptable number of Californians breathing polluted air, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has a lot of work to do to transition the state away from fossil fuels and towards a zero-emission future.

These imminent challenges spell a busy year for CARB staff and board members, and Sierra Club California’s policy advocates. Currently we are engaged in four critical rulemakings and planning processes at the agency that have the potential to drive down emissions across all sectors in the coming decades.

Advanced Clean Cars II Rulemaking: Light duty vehicles (cars) emit more than a quarter (28%) of the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and more than a tenth (13%) of its smog-forming oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions. The Advanced Clean Cars II rulemaking looks to transition 100% of light duty vehicle sales to zero emission vehicles by 2035.

This end goal is ambitious and important, but the speed at which this transition occurs in the years leading up to 2035 is critical for emission reductions. Sierra Club California is advocating for a sales target to aggressively ramp up as we approach 2035, so that we can start reducing emissions as soon as possible.

Advanced Clean Fleets Rulemaking: Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (trucks) emit almost one tenth (9%) of the state’s GHG emissions, and almost a third (32%) of its NOx emissions. The Advanced Clean Fleets rulemaking looks to replace 100% of the trucks on the road with zero emission vehicles by 2045.

Achieving this goal will take a range of regulatory actions. Among other things, we are pushing for CARB to achieve 100% zero emission sales of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 2036.

2022 State Implementation Plan: The State Implementation Plan (SIP) is the State’s strategy and commitment to reduce emissions from state-regulated sources to support the attainment of the federal air quality standards. We are pushing for measures in the SIP that will transition fossil-fuel-burning, polluting sectors to zero emissions as early as possible.

Specifically, we are encouraging CARB to propose a regulation in the SIP that will mandate the replacement of polluting heavy-duty trucks with zero emission vehicles as soon as the law allows. We also support a proposal in the SIP to require that 100 percent of new space and water heaters sold in 2030 and thereafter to meet a zero-emissions standard.

The Scoping Plan: The Scoping Plan outlines pathways across all sectors to achieve the state’s GHG reduction and climate goals. Like the SIP, we are pushing for CARB to only back strategies that prioritize zero emission technologies and avoid so-called “near-zero” and “bridge” technologies.

These four rulemakings and strategies are set to be approved by the CARB board by the end of the year. The coming months are crucial for us to push staff and board members to be as ambitious as the climate and Californians need them to be. Keep an eye on your inbox for opportunities to get involved!

Are you passionate about oil & gas, clean energy, and electricity issues? Do you have experience working with state and regulatory agencies on environmental campaigns? Do you like free donuts? If you answered yes to all of these, you might be Sierra Club California’s next Senior Policy Advocate!

Applications are now open for this position at our organization. We’re looking for a motivated, experienced lobby and policy advocate who can drive Sierra Club California’s work around crucial environmental campaigns like reducing the state’s dependence on dirty fuels, electrifying our infrastructure, and holding polluters accountable for their environmentally destructive actions.

As a Senior Policy Advocate, you’ll work closely with other Sierra Club California advocates and volunteers to develop and implement environmental campaigns, track and analyze relevant legislation, and directly lobby legislators and their staff to advance Sierra Club California’s climate goals.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who cares about environmental justice to make a real impact on California’s progress on climate change.

Sound like the job for you? Apply here today! Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If you’re selected for an interview, our director will reach out to you individually. Good luck with your application, and I hope to see you in the office (or on Zoom) someday soon!