Statement by Deborah Camiel for Clean Air California on sponsoring the Clean Cars, Clean Air Act for 2022 Ballot
San Francisco, CA – Today, the Clean Air California coalition announced a trifecta of key endorsements by leading environmental and public health groups. The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), the Coalition for Clean Air (CCA), and Public Health Advocates (PHAdvocates) have all joined the coalition of environmental, labor, and business groups aimed at ensuring the next generation of Californians has clean air, fewer extreme wildfires and a healthy place to live, work, play, and breathe for all.
Clean Air California is backing a November 2022 ballot initiative to curb the state’s two biggest sources of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions: transportation and wildfires. Besides the newest members, the coalition includes California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters), the State Association of Electrical Workers – IBEW, CAL FIRE Local 2881, Lyft, and other climate leaders.
“We welcome the NRDC, the CCA, and PHAdvocates to this alliance of Californians committed to addressing the twin perils of record-setting air pollution and increasingly catastrophic wildfires,” the coalition said in a statement. “Our steady growth speaks to the urgency felt across California to address both the causes and fallout of climate change. There is no time or need for delay: we expect to continue gaining momentum and to pass the Clean Cars and Clean Air Act in November.”
The Act provides the major long-term investment needed to fight wildfires and accelerate California’s transition to clean transportation with funding to:
- Increase wildfire prevention and suppression
- Make zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) more affordable for low- and middle-income consumers
- Expand ZEV charging/fueling infrastructure
“There is no family in this state that is undeserving of clean air,” said Oussama Mokeddem, Director of State Policy at PHAdvocates. “Now is the time to ensure that California’s transportation infrastructure is environmentally just and reaches Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and houseless communities in accessible and equitable ways.”
The initiative increases the state personal income tax rate by 1.75% on income over $2 million—a progressive revenue source that ensures the costs will be borne only by those most able to afford them and not passed on to low- and middle-income California families.
For more information about Clean Air California, write to info@cleanairca.org
###
Clean Air California is a growing coalition of environmental groups, firefighters, labor and businesses committed to achieving clean air in California. The group includes California Environmental Voters, the State Association of Electrical Workers – IBEW, Lyft, and CAL FIRE Local 2881.