Action Alerts

Defend California from federal pollution rollbacks

What's At Stake

Federal attacks have left Californians vulnerable to dangerous pollution, stalling the state’s momentum to clean up our notoriously dirty air. But all is not lost. California can lead and make up for these setbacks by providing a healthy funding stream for zero-emission trucks. Join us in telling Gov. Gavin Newsom and California state legislators that providing funding for nonpolluting trucks is the best investment we can make to improve the air for millions of Californians.

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Heavy-duty diesel trucks are the dirtiest vehicles on California’s roads. They make up just 6 percent of vehicles, but they produce the majority of health-harming air pollution that leads to asthma, heart disease, and even early death. California was on a path of progress with strong standards that would have replaced diesel big-rigs with zero-emission models, but the federal government unlawfully overturned these life-saving rules early last year. 

This year, we would like to see Governor Newsom and the State Legislature make up for these devastating losses by devoting at least $350 million of the state’s budget to fund zero-emission trucks and buses. 

While the Trump administration tries to drag the U.S. back to a time of smoggier skies, other countries are racing ahead and leaving us in the dust. Researchers expect electric trucks will make up 60% of all new truck sales in China by the end of this year. To stay competitive with the rest of the world, California has an opportunity to pick up the mantle and invest in modern technology that grows our clean energy economy and clears our notoriously smoggy skies. Creating a long-term funding stream for zero-emission trucks will spur good manufacturing jobs and help California companiess plan ahead. 

We know electrifying our trucks is a proven way to slash harmful pollution from the state’s dirtiest sector. California can take a stand, fight back, and invest in our future.

Aerial view container truck waiting at check point or terminal for unload container at container warehouse for logistics, import export, shipping or transportation. (Suriyapong Thongsawang / Getty Images)
Aerial view container truck waiting at check point or terminal for unload container at container warehouse for logistics, import export, shipping or transportation. (Suriyapong Thongsawang / Getty Images)

Delivery to Governor Newsom and California State Legislature

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Your Actions Matter

Your messages make a difference, even if we have leaders who don't want to listen. Here's why.

You level the playing field.

Elected officials pay attention when they see that we are paying attention. Read more.

They may be hearing from industry lobbyists left and right, but hearing the stories of their constituents — that’s your power.

Our legislators serve at the pleasure of the people who gave them their job — you.

Make sure your elected officials know whose community and whose values they represent. When you contact your elected official, you’re putting a face and a name on an issue.

Whether or not you voted for them, they work for you, for the duration of their term.

Make sure your elected officials know whose community and whose values they represent. (Find your local, state, and federal elected officials.)

Your action is with us in court.

If a federal agency finalizes a harmful action, the record of public comments provides a basis for bringing them into court. Read more.

Throughout each of the public comment periods we alert you to, Earthjustice’s attorneys are researching and writing in-depth, technical comments to submit — detailing how the regulation could and should be stronger to protect the environment, our communities, and our planet.

We need you to join us — your specific experiences, knowledge, and voice are crucial to add to the Administrative Record through the comment periods.

Lawsuits we file that challenge weak or harmful federal regulations rely on what was submitted during the comment period. The court can only look at documents that are in the Administrative Record — including the public comments — to decide if the agency did something improper.

Your actions aid our litigation. Taking action and submitting comments during a comment period is substantively important.

It’s the law.

Federal agencies must pause what they’re doing and ask for — and consider — your comment. Read more.

Many of us may have never heard of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), but laws like these require our government to ask the public to weigh in before agencies adopt or change regulations.

Regulations essentially describe how federal agencies will carry out laws — including decisions that could undermine science, or weaken safeguards on public health.

Public comments are collected at various points throughout the federal government’s rulemaking process, including when a regulation is proposed and finalized. (Learn about the rulemaking process.) These comments become part of the official, legal public record — the “Administrative Record.”

When the public responds with a huge outpouring of support for environmental protections, these individual messages collectively undercut politicians' attempts to claim otherwise.

What this means is each of us can take a role in shaping the rules our government creates — and ensuring those rules are fair and effective.