Californians less supportive of emissions cuts as affordability concerns grow

A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California shows that while Californians still favor reducing emissions in general, support for specific climate initiatives has decreased.

Support for Governor Newsom's plan to ban new gasoline-powered vehicle sales by 2035 dropped from 49% in 2021 to 32%, according to the Orange County Register.

This decline in backing for climate programs comes as affordability and cost of living have become the top concerns for most Californians, overshadowing environmental issues, the Public Policy Institute of California said.

Governor Newsom and former Governor Schwarzenegger recently marked the 20th anniversary of Assembly Bill 32, which set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets and established a cap-and-trade system.

While early emissions goals were met, recent reductions have slowed, making the 2030 target of 40% below 1990 levels unlikely, and support for reaching near-zero emissions by 2045 has also waned.

Newsom's stance on oil refining shifted after two refineries announced 2025 closures, highlighting the tension between environmental goals and energy affordability, the Orange County Register reported.