Airboard of California Resources (CARB) Functioning: An Explanation

In the heart of the United States, California has long grappled with some of the worst air quality, a problem that has prompted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to take decisive action. Since its inception, CARB has been at the forefront of regulating air pollution, particularly vehicle emissions, setting standards stricter than federal rules under a waiver from the Clean Air Act.

The story begins in the 1980s when CARB tightened nitrogen oxide emissions, effectively causing the demise of the carburetor in favor of fuel injection. This marked a significant shift towards cleaner methods of fuel delivery. The first catalytic converters, onboard computers, check engine lights, and several other clean vehicle technologies were developed in response to, or to accommodate, California's stringent standards.

In 1990, CARB created the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which stipulated that 10 percent of new vehicles sold by manufacturers must meet zero-emissions standards by 2003. Honda was the first car company to build an engine that met these strict standards without using a catalytic converter, demonstrating the innovative spirit that drives CARB's regulations.

CARB's vehicle emissions regulations have been instrumental in shaping the US automotive industry. By 2010, one-third of all cars in the United States were expected to meet California's emission standards. The board's influence extends beyond California, with multiple other states adopting its regulations.

CARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources while recognizing and considering the effects on the economy of the state. Today, CARB's primary role remains regulating emissions from vehicles, including medium- and heavy-duty trucks, through policies such as the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation and the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) sales mandates.

CARB actively updates these regulations to maintain emission reductions while providing manufacturers with flexibility. This is evident in recent amendments approved in July 2025, which add credit "pooling" options and allow credit offsets across vehicle classes.

However, in June 2025, the federal government under President Trump revoked CARB’s waiver via Congressional Review Act resolutions, nullifying key regulations like the Advanced Clean Trucks and Heavy-Duty Engine emissions rules at the federal level. This rollback has legal and practical implications, especially for trucking fleets challenged by transitioning to zero-emission technologies, although California and CARB continue pursuing their regulatory goals independently.

CARB is structured into nine main divisions, including Administrative Services, Enforcement, Mobile Source Control, Monitoring and Laboratory, Office of Information Services, Planning and Technical Support, Research, Stationary Source, and others. The board is composed of 11 members, including experts in various fields relating to air quality, local elected officials, and two public members.

Cars in the ZEV category include plug-in electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. According to a recent study by the American Lung Association, five of the top 10 cities most polluted by long-term particle pollution are in California. Despite these challenges, CARB continues to strive towards its goal of emission reductions from transportation.

References: [1] California Air Resources Board. (n.d.). About CARB. Retrieved from https://www.arb.ca.gov/about/ [2] California Air Resources Board. (n.d.). Clean Transportation. Retrieved from https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/cleanvehicles/cleanvehicles.htm [3] California Air Resources Board. (n.d.). Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation. Retrieved from https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/regulation/advanced-clean-trucks [4] California Air Resources Board. (n.d.). Zero-Emission Vehicles. Retrieved from https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/regulation/zero-emission-vehicles

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has a historical role in regulating air pollution, particularly vehicle emissions, with its influence reaching beyond California.
California's stringent vehicle emission regulations, such as the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, have significantly shaped the US automotive industry.
CARB's mission is not only focused on public health and ecological resources but also considers the economic effects of its regulations.
In response to California's emissions standards, technologies like catalytic converters, onboard computers, and check engine lights were developed in the automotive industry.
CARB actively updates its regulations to maintain emissions reductions while providing manufacturers with flexibility, as demonstrated by recent amendments in 2025.
The federal government's revocation of CARB’s waiver in 2025 could pose challenges for trucking fleets adopting zero-emission technologies, forcing California and CARB to pursue their regulatory goals independently.
CARB's regulatory actions have contributed to the development of clean technologies like electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, playing a crucial role in addressing issues like climate change and environmental science.