California to ban the sale of petrol-only vehicles by 2035 to tackle the climatic change

California is to ban the sale of new petrol-only vehicles by 2035, marking a historic step in the attempts of the state to tackle climate change.

The new rules in California aimed to force car makers to accelerate the introduction of cleaner vehicles to the market. This rule was introduced after Governor Gavin Newsom set a target in 2020 to speed up the shift away from fossil fuels. The move is essential for California as it is one of the world's biggest economies and the most populous state in the US.

Under the new rules by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), 35% of new vehicles sold in the state must be hybrid, hydrogen-powered, or electric by 2026. The same regulations would apply to 68% of vehicle sales by 2030 and 100% by 2035.

The announcement is the latest move by California as to tighten emission rules it continues to move faster than the US federal government. But the new rules still have to be approved by the US government before they can come into effect. However, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Trade Association called on the Environmental Protection Agency and President Biden to "reject California's request for a Clean Air Act waiver to proceed with this unlawful ban."