CARB 2025: Advancing clean air and climate progress through collaboration and determination

SACRAMENTO -Despite a year of federal opposition around every corner, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) continued its critical mission and remained focused on its duties to improve air quality and public health and to tackle climate change.

Here's a quick snapshot of 12 of CARB's most significant highlights from this year:

1. Emergency in the Air: CARB Mobilizes to Support Response to LA Fires
   In the days right after the Palisades and Eaton Fires began in January, CARB eased constraints for portable generators to help meet the increased demand and ensure that residents had the resources necessary to meet medical and other needs in the event of a power outage. The agency then undertook the largest emergency response in CARB history including helping the South Coast Air Quality Management District rapidly deploy monitoring equipment near the burn scar to track toxic particulate matter, asbestos, arsenic, lead and nickel.
   
2. Standing Strong for Science: CARB Defends Public Health Amid Federal Rollbacks
   In the face of federal obstacles like the illegal congressional resolutions to disapprove CARB's waivers for critical regulations needed to reduce emissions, CARB kept sight of the need to use real science and its public duty to protect public health. While the federal government rejected accepted research on climate and air quality, CARB adopted a five-year research plan that will inform science-driven policymaking. The agency also submitted comments opposing the U.S. Department of Energy's report that wrongfully questioned climate science as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to shirk federal responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by overturning its 2009 endangerment finding.
   
3. Methane Matters: CARB Strengthens Landfill Rules to Target California's Second-Largest Source
   CARB approved updates to its Landfill Methane Regulation to enable quicker detection and repair of methane leaks at landfills, improve reporting and transparency and facilitate stronger action for recurring issues. Advanced technologies, like satellite monitoring, are key to the state's faster response on methane emissions. Methane, generated from the breakdown of waste, is a potent greenhouse gas, and landfills are the second largest source of methane in California.
   
4. Fewer Emissions, Growing Economy: California's Climate Programs Continue to Deliver
   Data shows California's climate programs continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even while the state's economy grows. California's greenhouse gas emissions inventory showed a 3% drop in statewide emissions - the third largest annual percentage decrease since 2000. The decrease is equivalent to removing more than 2.6 million gas-powered cars from the state's roads for one year. The drop was primarily driven by a 17% decline in emissions from heavy-duty trucks due to the increased use of biofuels driven by the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
   
5. Driving the Future: ZEVs Hit Record 23% of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Sales
   Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) made up nearly 23% of new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales in California in 2024 - more than double the state's target and the highest total ZEV sales ever reported. California helped drive ZEV sales with funding available through the Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). Funded through the Cap-and-Invest Program, HVIP is the state's primary incentive program for clean trucks and buses. Demand remains high with nearly $200 million requested on the first day applications opened. ZEV sales remained strong in 2025.
   
6. Drive Forward: Navigating California's Next Chapter in Clean Transportation
   CARB launched Drive Forward, a new initiative reaffirming California's leadership in clean air and climate policy. Guided by Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-27-25, Drive Forward supports the development of the next phase of vehicle emission regulations, incentive programs, outreach and education, and complementary programs and policies that enable clean vehicle deployment. CARB held the first series of Drive Forward workshops in late 2025 and will hold additional workshops in 2026 and beyond. CARB is coordinating closely with other state agencies and will continue to bring together policymakers, experts and leaders from the environmental and scientific communities, automotive and trucking industries, fleet operators, community groups, and the public to discuss issues including infrastructure, incentives, partnerships, and emission reduction strategies.
   
7. ️ Eyes in the Sky, Action on the Ground: CARB Fixes 12 Major Methane Leaks with Satellite Technology
   Designed and funded by CARB, California's satellite project helped resolve 12 large methane leaks at oil and gas facilities since May. This is the equivalent to removing about 19,000 cars from the state's roads for a year. The leaks were detected by cutting edge sensors on the Tanager-1 satellite and tracked on a new CARB dashboard. Methane is the second largest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. It remains in the atmosphere for only about a decade meaning most damage occurs relatively quickly and reducing methane emissions will more quickly slow rising global temperatures. CARB continues to meet with other governments on how remote satellite data can support quick action elsewhere to reduce methane emissions.
   
8. ️ Climate Commitment Extended: California's Cap-and-Invest Program Fuels Progress to 2045 In September, the Legislature extended California's Cap-and-Invest Program, also known as the Cap-and-Trade Program, through 2045. The program has proven to be a cost-effective policy tool to address climate and air pollution by making polluters pay and reduce emissions over time. In addition to reducing emissions, including in communities most burdened by pollution, it has also delivered billions of dollars in real benefits to Californians. This includes generating $33 billion for climate solutions, of which over 70% of implemented funds have gone to disadvantaged and low-income communities, and $15 billion for utility bill credits. By extending the program, the Legislature helped ensure the state stays on track to achieve its 2030 and 2045 climate goals, while also providing market and regulatory certainty for this important state funding stream and program to reduce carbon pollution.
   
9. Clean Air, Community Power: AB 617 Secures Ongoing Funding The Legislature also approved continuous funding from the Cap-and-Invest Program for the Community Air Protection Program established by Assembly Bill 617. Stable funding means that community air protection efforts can expand to include even more communities that suffer from the highest levels of air pollution in the state. To date, community-identified priorities and air district implementation have funded over 9,000 local projects that have reduced air pollution emissions and exposures.
   
10. Air Quality in Motion: CARB Rolls Out Mobile Monitoring Across 64 Communities CARB launched the monitoring phase of the Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative, a first-of-its-kind program delivering localized air pollution data to guide efforts to improve air quality in California. The pilot project uses vehicles equipped with sensors to collect comprehensive air quality information across 64 communities statewide as part of CARB's Community Air Protection program. This data will be used to support actions to protect public health, especially in communities that face greater air quality burdens.
    
11. ⛽ Fueling the Future: California's Updated Low Carbon Fuel Standard Powers Clean Mobility Without Price Spike
    The updated Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulation took effect on July 1. The regulation benefits public health, increases funding for electric vehicle charging and saves Californians billions of dollars. The amended regulation drives private sector investment to increase cleaner fuel and transportation options for Californians, accelerate the deployment of zero-emission infrastructure, and help the state achieve required air quality and climate targets. Despite false claims about the impact to gas prices, the new amendments went into effect without an increase in prices at the pump.
    
12. ✨ Passing the Torch: CARB Honors Chair Randolph, Welcomes Chair Sanchez
    At the end of September, Chair Liane Randolph retired after more than four years leading CARB and 20 years in state leadership. During her time as Chair, CARB expanded its focus on improving conditions in communities that suffer from the highest levels of air pollution in the state, and the Board adopted landmark climate and environmental policies, including the 2022 Scoping Plan and implementing Governor Newsom's 2020 executive order on zero-emission vehicles. Governor Newsom appointed Senior Advisor to the Governor for Climate Lauren Sanchez to serve as the next CARB Chair beginning Oct. 1.