Massachusetts will ban new gas-powered car sales in 2035

Massachusetts has joined California with a plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in the next decade, a move that will give the public time to transition to zero-emissions electric vehicles. The goal is to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions over the coming years, a key effort in curbing more severe outcomes related to climate change.

The decision to ban new gas-powered car sales in the next decade or so was revealed as part of a wider plan to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions. This is a ‘legally binding commitment,’ according to The Boston Globe, which first spied the report.

Ultimately, Massachusetts aims to reduce its carbon emissions — by 2030 — to 45-percent below the levels it saw in 1990, making it one of the most ambitious climate-centric goals on record. The state’s Baker administration noted the negative effects a warming planet is already having on Massachusetts, including growing wildfire risk, flooding, droughts, and extreme weather.