Tackling Climate Change, California Begins To Ban Sales Of Gas-Powered Equipment In 2024

California entered emission standards for the engine in 1990. (photo: doc. Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Climate change has become a concern of people around the world, including California, United States (US). In the state, the local government has banned the sale of equipment with gas-powered engines to reduce emissions.

This step is contained in the Act (UU) which has been signed by the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. The law contains ordering regulators to ban the sale of small off-road engines. Some of these tools include lawn mowers, generators and pressure washers.

The purpose of the law is to reduce emissions. California incorporated emission standards for the engine in 1990. While emissions from today's cars have declined over the past few decades, that's not necessarily the case for small off-road engines.

State officials state that an hour-long gas-powered lawnmower emits the same level of pollution as a 2017 Toyota Camry that travels about 1,100 miles.

There are currently more than 16.7 million devices with small off-road engines in California. So far, California is dealing with emissions from gas-powered engines in other fields.

Last year for example, the California Air Resources Board revealed all truck and van manufacturers should switch to electric models by 2045. The state will also ban the sale of new combustion engine cars and trucks by 2035. Many automakers aim to switch completely to EVs by then. Another zero-emissions rule for light autonomous vehicles will take effect from 2030.

Currently, there are already several washing machines that adopt electricity as power, as well as lawn mowers on the market. Meanwhile, zero-emission generators may be harder to come by, although some companies are also trying to make hydrogen-powered models.

With this decision, Newsom has given the California Air Resources Board a deadline to adopt and implement the regulation. They have until July 1 to adopt the rules.

According to an Engadget report, Tuesday, October 12, the regulations will apply to machines made on or after January 1, 2024. The law also stipulates that regulators need to offer price cuts to lower switching equipment costs. Where the state has also prepared 30 million US dollars to cover costs.