GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S EXECUTIVE ORDER OFFERS A STEP FORWARD BUT DOES NOT PROTECT FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2020

Contact: 

Esther Portillo | esther.p@ccaej.org

GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S EXECUTIVE ORDER OFFERS A STEP FORWARD BUT DOES NOT PROTECT FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES FROM CLIMATE CRISIS IMPACT

Executive Order offers bold action but does not go far enough to protect our communities 

Jurupa Valley, CA - Today Governor Newsom signed executive order N-79-20 intended to hasten the timeline for California’s transition to a carbon neutral economy. The executive order takes strong steps on electrifying our transportation sector and makes significant steps towards the decarbonization of California’s economy, resulting in drastic reductions in emissions. 

We applaud the Governor’s efforts to combat the devastating impacts of climate change, underscoring the need for charging infrastructure in environmental justice communities like ours. The recent Executive Order is a step in the right direction to help California reach zero emissions, but that step needs to be paired with strong ZEV requirements for heavy-duty and drayage trucks as well as enforceable zero-emission regulations on indirect sources. We need solutions that provide tangible results for communities bearing the brunt of the burden. The Inland Region has the worst air quality in the nation, the highest rates of asthma, and over 60% of the nation’s logistics commerce. 2035 is not soon enough to get to 100% ZEV heavy-duty vehicle sales, the community of the Inland Region continues to be the epicenter of the future of the logistics industry and we are faced with massive indirect pollution sources such as San Bernardino Amazon Air, the World Logistics Center, and the expansion of freight in Colton. The diesel-powered future of commerce must not expand at the expense of our communities' health. The path towards a climate resilient future must begin at the source and If we do not take immediate action and prioritize communities on the front line of polluting industries and systems, we risk losing thousands of lives in the process.

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The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ)  is a community organization that brings people together to improve our social and natural environment. We do this by developing indigenous leadership, community organizing through strategic campaigns and building a base of community power. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.