California Courting Climate Change Advantage

authordefault
on

When California started insisting, in the late 1960s, that automakers clean up exhaust emissions, industry screamed at the notion, threatening that the state’s tough standards would bankrupt car owners and put the industry out of business.

Forty-odd years later, North American’s love affair with the car has reached new heights of rapture and the air in every major city is more breathable than it was in the mid-70s, despite a tripling of  the number of vehicles on the street during those years.

Now we have certain lions of industry – and certain of their political patsies – threatening economic collapse if we reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change. But researchers at the University of California at Berkley say that their innovative state may, in fact reap a huge benefit by being the first to mandate and develop more efficient energy measures.

It’s a shame to see the Californians grasping one more reason to be cocky, but if their actions help turn around the climate crisis, we’ll have to all get gracous and say thank you.

Related Posts

on

Proposed legislation would further lower regulatory hurdles, despite environmental and public health risks.

Proposed legislation would further lower regulatory hurdles, despite environmental and public health risks.
on

Insiders aren’t surprised as ExxonMobil, the last remaining proponent of green algae biofuel, ends research.

Insiders aren’t surprised as ExxonMobil, the last remaining proponent of green algae biofuel, ends research.
on

Bayer’s efforts to sway public opinion are part of a strategy to “fight any sustainable transition which would harm its business”, say campaigners.

Bayer’s efforts to sway public opinion are part of a strategy to “fight any sustainable transition which would harm its business”, say campaigners.
Opinion
on

Greece’s worst rail disaster ever is the result of the same corporate cost-cutting and deregulation that led to East Palestine and Lac-Mégantic disasters.

Greece’s worst rail disaster ever is the result of the same corporate cost-cutting and deregulation that led to East Palestine and Lac-Mégantic disasters.