Are We Addicted to Cars? The Case for Public Transport
Feb 14, 2024
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California State Senator Scott Wiener discusses the need for better public transportation alongside the shift to cleaner cars, the new law on corporate emissions disclosure, and the potential impact of a Trump second term on the Golden State.
California should accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and move towards a cleaner energy future by funding clean energy initiatives and streamlining the deployment of new technologies like EV charging infrastructure.
Reducing car dependency and investing in public transit can help create sustainable and efficient transportation options, highlighting the need for a true statewide rail system and development of high-speed rail in California.
Deep dives
California's Leadership in EV Transition
California is leading the nation in the transition to zero-emission vehicles (EVs) with one in four car sales being electric by 2023. However, Senator Scott Wiener emphasizes that there is still room for improvement. He believes that California should accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and move towards a cleaner energy future. Wiener highlights the role of the state legislature in funding clean energy initiatives and working towards regulatory reform to streamline the deployment of new technologies like EV charging infrastructure.
Importance of Public Transportation and High-Speed Rail
While California has taken significant strides in the adoption of EVs, Senator Wiener points out that the state has fallen behind in developing a robust public transportation network. He acknowledges the need to prioritize zero-emission vehicles but emphasizes the importance of not relying solely on car ownership. Wiener advocates for a true statewide rail system and the development of high-speed rail in California. He believes that reducing car dependency and investing in public transit can help create sustainable and efficient transportation options.
Corporate Disclosure of Emissions
Senator Wiener discusses the landmark greenhouse gas emission disclosure bill in California, which requires large corporations to disclose their entire carbon footprint, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. This law aims to provide transparency and enable public investors to make informed decisions. He also highlights the parallel climate risk bill that focuses on disclosing climate-related risks by corporations. Wiener emphasizes that these laws are crucial for California to maintain its leadership in climate action and addresses concerns regarding budget battles and frozen funding for implementing these laws.
California has long been proactive when it comes to environmental policy, implementing measures ranging from a carbon market to put a price on emissions, to legislation to phase out the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars. But are current policies going far enough, and what can be done to ensure the state’s position as the climate leader in the US?
On today’s show, we bring you an interview from our recent San Francisco Summit, where California State Senator Scott Wiener sat down with Corey Cantor, a Senior Associate in BloombergNEF’s Electric Vehicle team. Together they discuss California’s need for better public transportation alongside the shift to cleaner cars, the new law Wiener spearheaded on corporate emissions disclosure, and the potential impact of a Trump second term on the Golden State.
Today’s episode was recorded live at BNEF's San Francisco Summit. To learn more about our Summits and to listen to more interviews, please visit https://about.bnef.com/summit/