New York did It: Bans sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035

New York state announced a plan Thursday to require all new vehicles sold in the state to be zero emissions by 2035. After signing the legislation last year, state Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday that the administration was "stepping on the gas" after a federal law forced her to wait for California to pass its own legislation.

After signing the legislation last year, state Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday that her administration was "stepping on the gas" after a federal law forced her to wait for California to pass its own legislation.

Gas vehicles

California ruled in August that a growing percentage of new cars sold to the state's 40 million people must not produce pollutants in their tailpipes until it is completely banned in 2035.

Following that decision, Hochul directed New York officials to take regulatory action to ensure that all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the state are zero-emission by 2035.

The directive sets interim targets of 35% of sales by 2026 and 68% by 2030. "In fact, we have benchmarks to achieve to show that we are on track" toward that goal, Hochul said in a speech in the city of White Plains.

The regulations will also gradually tighten emission standards for vehicles with internal combustion engines. To offset the costs of electric vehicles, Hochul announced more funding for a buyer rebate program and announced advances in the state's charging infrastructure.

New York will also receive $175 million from the federal government for its charging network. California and New York join jurisdictions around the world that have turned their eyes on the polluting auto industry to combat climate change in recent years.

Britain, Singapore and Israel are targeting 2030, while the European Union wants to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

A call to the world

UN Secretary-General António Guterres last week invited the international community to hold a "serious discussion" about the consequences of climate change that they suffer, especially in developing countries.

“ I was recently in Pakistan where I was horrified by the devastation and suffering caused by the unprecedented floods. Today it is Pakistan, but the climate catastrophe is knocking on everyone's door," the United Nations Secretary-General said during a speech at the UN General Assembly.

Guterres called for treating renewable energy adaptation and building resilience "with the utmost urgency," doubling funding to $40 billion a year.

He also recalled that this month's devastation in Pakistan (where floods have covered around a third of the country) occurred with global warming of 1.2 degrees, warning that the world is headed for a general rise of more than three degrees.

For this reason, he assured all member countries that the only way to protect societies is to "limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees."

“That means a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions this decade and net zero emissions by 2050. Today, the world is on track for a 14% increase,” he said.

In this sense, he demanded that countries cut their emissions quickly and immediately: “We need all hands on deck. Plans must be clear and verifiable. Transparency and accountability are key.”

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