There
are numerous reasons why it is important to regulate
smog and emissions from vehicles like cars, buses,
and trucks. Such regulations help us to fight climate
change by reducing our carbon footprint, as well as
reduce air pollution and, by extension,
improve the well-being of humans, animals, and
the surrounding environment. It even saves people money
by reducing the need for more fossil
fuels!
That's why it's been so crucial to have
California leading the way by setting the
strictest emissions standards in the U.S. But of course,
Trump and his cronies hate that. So the
Republican-controlled U.S. Senate just voted to block
California's ability to set stronger
rules.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has given California waivers to set it own,
stricter, standards for almost 60 years. This
decision is up to the EPA alone — not Congress.
But Republicans are so incensed by the idea of
protecting the environment and public health, they're
trying revoke California's ability to use these
waivers.
With climate change worsening year
after year, we don't have any time to lose when it
comes to reducing our carbon emissions. Vehicles are
one of the top contributors to climate change around
the globe, including in the U.S. — one of the most
carbon-emitting countries in the world. Additionally,
loosening emissions laws would mean millions of children
and families face the horrible effects of worse air
quality. Even worse, air pollution disproportionately
impacts communities of color, saddling them with a
public health crisis.
Luckily, California Governor
Gavin Newsom has declared: "We won't stand by as Trump
Republicans make America smoggy again... We're going to
fight this unconstitutional attack on California in
court."
California must continue to be a
leader when it comes to environmental justice and
emissions regulations. Sign the petition to demand
that California stand strong and fight this illegal
Congressional
action!
