Climate Change

With 7 of its most ambitious rules for cars, trucks and trains repealed, California officials now must find new ways to clean up the nation’s worst air pollution. But officials face growing pushback about affordability and costs.

Major changes to the California Environmental Quality Act include an exemption for high-tech industrial plants and other projects. The move, fast-tracked under pressure from Gov. Gavin Newsom, sparked fierce pushback from environmental, community and labor groups.

No immediate hike in California gas prices will occur but Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature fear the effects of the clean-fuel program.

Trump signed measures today revoking waivers for the state's mandates that clean up car and truck exhaust and ramp up sales of electric vehicles. California and 10 other states immediately sued and the governor ordered the air board to craft a new mandate.

The new rules would have set increasing targets for sales of zero-emission products in the 4-county L.A. region over the next decade. Opponents say they would have limited consumers’ choices and driven up costs, while supporters say they are critical for healthy air.

Proposed legislation hasn't moved out of the state Assembly or Senate, raising questions about how far California will go in its efforts to make oil and gas companies pay for climate damage.

Today's decision could upend California’s phaseout of gas-powered cars and diesel trucks and its decades-long battle against air pollution. California plans to file suit, claiming an unlawful use of an act allowing Congress to review some regulations enacted by the previous administration.

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to extend California's landmark cap and trade program through 2045. But earmarking half of this year's funds to the beleaguered rail project and Cal Fire would leave too little for other climate projects, critics say.

The $250 million, which would fund about 500 electric trucks serving the ports of LA and Long Beach, remains frozen as a legal dispute plays out between the EPA, a bank and a green energy group.

Six conservancies throughout the state will oversee work largely in Southern California and the Sierra Nevada.