Focus on climate crisis
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Reporting on climate change is one of the major journalistic challenges of our time. The climate crisis is also one of the most important issues of humanity for SPIEGEL. For this reason, we support an international initiative that seeks to take a look this week: "Covering Climate Now" was initiated by the Columbia Journalism Review and the Canadian newspaper "The Nation", with more than 200 media companies around the world, including the Guardian, El País, La Repubblica, The Times of India, Bloomberg or Vanity Fair. SPIEGEL is dedicating the cover story of the current issue to the climate crisis this week and every day pays special attention to mirror.de
California's emissions regulations are some of the strictest in the world - and many Californians have a certain pride in it. Even in the 1980s, when catalytic converters were finding their way into cars around the world, the US state was the bar for many: cars that were clean enough for California also met the standards of other countries.
But with its stringent environmental regulations, the state is a hot topic for US President Donald Trump. He is pursuing an environmental agenda that runs completely counter to that of California: Trump wants to relieve the economy of regulations where possible. For him, climate protection and environmental protection are spinning mills that have to be stopped. For a while, liberal Californians did not like him.
It fits into the picture that Trump now wants to make California exhaust emissions regulations. The Federal Environment Agency (EPA) is scheduled to announce this Wednesday in Washington that California will be deprived of a decade-old special right that has made the state's stricter anti-pollution rules possible. The financial service Bloomberg and the "New York Times" report in unison, citing inaugurated circles.
In 1970, Washington gave the state the right to issue emissions regulations that differ from those in the rest of the United States. The reason was the high level of smog pollution in the metropolitan area of Los Angeles.
13 other states are based on California
That had consequences. On the one hand, because California is now the largest car market in the US: The industry must be prepared for the local regulations. On the other hand, because now 13 other states are based on the California rules - together with California, a third of the US car market.
The conflict between California and Trump runs through his entire presidency. The plan to curtail the special rights was formulated by the US Federal Government about a year ago. Speaking on Tuesday, Andy Wheeler, head of the EPA, said, "We support the federalism of our country and the role of states, but federalism must not justify that a nation-wide state can dictate its standards."
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California has announced that it will need to go to the Supreme Court to obtain this privilege if necessary. "California will continue its efforts to build a cleaner future," said State Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
The auto industry, which according to Trump is supposed to be the beneficiary of his policy, is on the topic between the fronts. Although it has lobbied for lax regulations in the past, its main objective is uniform standards: it is cumbersome and expensive to adapt the models to divergent regional rules.
Volkswagen, BMW, Ford and Honda recently concluded a special emissions deal with California, drawing the wrath of Trump. His government is now considering violations of federal law.