Part 3/11:
This development follows close on the heels of California’s earlier attempts to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles after 2035—a move that also faced skepticism and swift political pushback. Governor Gavin Newsom had positioned California as a frontrunner in climate action, criticizing federal policies and emphasizing a transition to clean energy. Yet, in practice, these ambitious mandates have collided with economic realities and infrastructural limitations, causing California to retreat from its aggressive stance.