Daily CSR
Daily CSR

Daily CSR
Daily news about corporate social responsibility, ethics and sustainability

California Adopts Advanced Clean Fleets Rule to Accelerate Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles



05/03/2023


Ceres and its esteemed company and investor partners are proud to hail the California Air Resources Board for adopting the ground-breaking Advanced Clean Fleets rule - a masterful and harmonious approach to transitioning fleets that are poised for vehicle electrification to zero-emission models gradually over time.
 
The ACF rule is the perfect complement to other clean transportation policies in California that aim to augment the availability of zero-emission vehicles by mandating major commercial fleets that operate in the state to progressively deploy them in the next few years.
 
As more and more companies aim to reduce their fuel and maintenance costs by having access to zero-emission vehicles, many large businesses have rallied behind the ACF rule. This policy will assist companies in achieving their climate objectives across their supply chains and reinforce the United States' role as a global leader by attracting investments in clean transportation.
 
“At eBay, we believe we have an urgent and important responsibility to mitigate the impact of climate change,” said Renée Morin, chief sustainability officer at eBay.
 
“Moving to clean vehicles is a critical part of achieving our climate goals. That’s why we support the Advanced Clean Fleet rule to help get more clean trucks on U.S. roadways and help minimize the impact of transporting and shipping the goods sold on our platform.”
 
“IKEA USA is committed to 100% zero-emission home deliveries by 2025. To achieve our vision for a clean transportation future, we need smart policies to help accelerate the availability of and access to zero-emission vehicles of all types and sizes. An ambitious Clean Fleets program is a critical policy that will move us closer to our climate goals, reduce air pollution, and build a cleaner economy” said Steven Moelk, fulfillment project implementation manager, zero-emission delivery at IKEA.
 
“Avocado Green Brands is proud to be the first mattress company to become carbon negative across all our operations by offsetting more emissions than the company generates. But we know that carbon offsets are a band-aid and not a long-term solution to climate challenge. That’s why we support ambitious policies like California’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule that will help accelerate the shift to zero-emission vehicles and drive their uptake by the fleets we partner with to deliver our products—which in turn will help us to reduce emissions without offsets” said John Davies, senior director, brand editorial and sustainability at Avocado Green Brands.
 
"An Ambitious Clean Fleets program is vital to meeting our climate goals and keeping the U.S. economy competitive. But perhaps most importantly for our Dignity Health hospitals: this regulation will improve public health and reduce health costs. This is especially true for vulnerable, low-income and BIPOC communities that live near major transportation hubs. Getting more clean trucks on our roads will reduce respiratory illness and hospitalizations and decrease the health sector's carbon footprint that's attributed to the supply chain” said Rachelle Wenger, system vice president for public policy and advocacy engagement at CommonSpirit Health.
 
Transforming our transportation system is one of the most critical steps we can take to reduce climate change and improve public health. Sadly, it's no secret that transportation is the top contributor to climate pollution and a leading cause of deadly air pollution. Low-income and communities of color that are located near major roadways and freight centers are hit the hardest by the negative effects of this pollution, often resulting in severe heart and lung disease.
 
However, the solution is within our reach. To meet our national and state climate goals and reduce public health impacts, we must shift to zero-emission vehicles across the board. And the good news is that we're already making progress. Thanks to the ACF rule, we're setting higher standards for different types of vehicles and prioritizing fleet operators to transition to 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2045. Plus, the rule allows for flexibility to account for any potential challenges, such as infrastructure deployment and vehicle delivery delays.
 
Furthermore, the ACF rule requires all new truck sales in California to be zero-emission models by 2036. This bold move will make a significant difference in reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality for all Californians. In fact, over 45 companies, investors, and institutions have already shown their support for the ACF rule, calling for its ambitious adoption in a letter organized by Ceres and sent to CARB in 2022.
 
We have the power to create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable transportation system for ourselves and future generations. Let's continue to work together towards this goal.
 
“Adopting a strong standard for commercial vehicle fleets is necessary and feasible and doing so will generate significant climate, economic, and public health benefits across the country,” the letter said.
 
Attention all businesses committed to achieving their ambitious climate goals! The ACF rule is the ultimate tool for ensuring that your entire supply chain, including your suppliers and contractors, is on board with adopting zero-emission vehicles. With the finalization of this ground-breaking policy, California has taken a major step forward in accelerating the shift towards clean vehicles, setting the stage for the rest of the country to follow suit.
 
And this isn't the first time that California has taken the lead in this area. The Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Cars II rules, both previously adopted by CARB, have already set the bar high for zero-emission passenger and commercial vehicles. The increasing sales targets established by these rules have been embraced by other states and supported by major U.S. businesses.
 
With the ACF rule in place, your business can stay ahead of the curve and remain fully committed to your climate goals. By ensuring that your suppliers and contractors are also adopting zero-emission vehicles, you'll be doing your part to create a cleaner and more sustainable future for all. So join us in leading the way towards a better tomorrow!
“Widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles will benefit the climate, public health, and the bottom lines of companies,” said Alli Gold Roberts, senior director of state policy, Ceres.
 
“The Advanced Clean Fleets rule is a crucial policy that will complement others already adopted by California to ensure the benefits of clean vehicles are felt throughout the economy and in communities across the state. We applaud the California Air Resources Board for the thoughtful design of this policy, celebrate its finalization today, and encourage other states to follow this bold example and share in its many benefits.”