The Loma Prietan
July/August 2002
Reduce Greenhouse Gases Emissions
in California: Support AB 1058
In California, millions of cars and trucks each day spew out greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that this type of pollution is the main culprit behind global warming—perhaps the biggest environmental threat facing us this century.
Global warming—small increases in the Earth's average temperature—can cause tremendous damage to the environment and our way of life: flooding of coastal cities, extinction of thousands of species, major droughts in California and throughout the world, decline in air quality, and loss of agricultural land. These disasters could be commonplace unless we address global warming pollution now.
The Bush administration has turned a blind eye to this problem. So a united environmental community, with the backing of public health organizations, has taken steps to address this problem on the state level. Assemblywoman Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) has worked hard to pass her landmark global warming legislation, AB 1058, in the California Legislature.
This bill would make California the first state in the nation to establish standards and regulations to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles. Moreover, as Assemblywoman Pavley points out, "setting new auto emission standards to reduce global warming is a cost-effective solution that will (also) reduce air pollution, including smog and soot-forming pollutants."
Opponents, led by the automobile manufacturing industry, have put forth a massive disinformation campaign to scare some elected officials into opposing the bill. They have spent millions of dollars on a media campaign that makes false claims, stating that this bill would ban pick-up trucks or that gas taxes would go up (the bill prohibits banning any type of vehicle and does not permit additional gas taxes).
The reality is that this is a modest but very important, groundbreaking bill that would lead the country toward building more fuel efficient and less polluting vehicles of all sizes.
What You Can Do
We expect the bill to be brought up for a vote later this summer. Please write Assemblyman John Dutra and Governor Davis indicating strong support for AB 1058.
Assemblyman John Dutra
39510 Paseo Padre Parkway #280
Fremont, CA 94538
Fax: 510/440-9035
Honorable Gray Davis
Governor of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814