The Los Angeles City Council today passed a resolution to show the city’s official support of legislation that would get California to have 100% of the vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission
by 2030.
“We know that gasoline-powered vehicles are unequivocally worsening the climate crisis. In L.A., a city that is notorious for its reliance on cars, it’s imperative that we take immediate action to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and really model leadership in boldly pursuing a sustainable, green economy,” said Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who introduced the resolution.
The resolution — which passed 12-0 — notes that zero-emission vehicle sales in California increased by more than 3,000% from 2012 to 2020, when 763,816 zero-emission vehicles were sold.
“Zero-emission vehicles and related services are an important and growing sector of California’s economy, providing an opportunity for quality jobs and tax revenue that will help to implement aspects of the Green New Deal in our state,” the resolution states.
Said Raman: “I for one, and my children, will be very grateful for an improvement in L.A.’s air quality, and many lives will be saved through that means, as well.”
The city’s Green New Deal has a goal of getting to 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2050, but Raman notes that in order to achieve that goal, sales of gasoline-powered vehicles would have to end much earlier.
“The governor’s current 2035 target to end the sale of new gasoline- powered vehicles in California is not adequate to enable the city to achieve our Green New Deal’s goals, as a gasoline-powered vehicle purchased in 2034 could easily last beyond 2050,” the resolution states.
The cities of Berkeley, Culver City, Hayward, Oakland, Richmond, San Leandor and Mountain View already passed resolutions calling on California to move its goal of 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2030.
Councilman Paul Koretz, who seconded the resolution, said, “The number of climate exacerbated floods and fires in the last two months alone is absolutely staggering. If you have lung cancer, you stop smoking. If your planet is on fire, you stop pouring gasoline on it.
“Stopping building new gas cars tomorrow wouldn’t be too soon, and soon electric vehicles will cost less than gas guzzlers. I strongly support this very common sense item and ask for your vote.”
