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California Governor Gavin Newsom has responded to President Donald Trump’s rollback of climate protections by unveiling a “first-of-its-kind” pollution monitoring program. The Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI) will use specially equipped vehicles to collect block-by-block air quality data in 64 communities facing heavy pollution. This initiative aims to help officials create solutions to improve air quality and public health.
“The federal government’s actions threaten to return us to smoggy skies, but California continues to lead the way,” Newsom said in a statement on Tuesday. “We’re deploying first-of-its-kind vehicles to monitor pollution levels at a block-by-block level, delivering critical air quality information to communities across the state.”
### Why It Matters
The SMMI comes amid sweeping federal actions targeting state-level environmental rules. The Trump administration has attempted to block California’s authority to set vehicle emission standards and rolled back clean air waivers.
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### What To Know
The project, spearheaded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), will deploy sensor-equipped vehicles supplied by Aclima, along with mobile labs managed by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Riverside, and Aerodyne. The researchers will collect data from 64 communities statewide, with 60 percent of the monitoring focused on priority populations, including low-income communities and those facing disproportionate pollution.
More than 40 community-based organizations across the state have partnered with CARB to identify local air quality concerns and ensure community voices shape the monitoring efforts.
### Impact
Over the past five decades, California’s clean air initiatives have reduced diesel-related cancer risks by nearly 80 percent and saved $250 billion in health care costs. Trump’s second term saw more than 150 actions weakening environmental standards, with particular focus on California’s authority to regulate pollution.
During his first term, Trump took significant steps to limit California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards. On September 18, 2019, the Trump administration announced the revocation of California’s waiver, which allowed the state to enforce stricter greenhouse gas and zero-emission vehicle mandates than federal standards.
The administration justified this by asserting a need for a unified national standard to reduce vehicle costs and improve safety. Critics argued that this undermined states’ rights and environmental protections. In March 2022, under President Joe Biden’s administration, the Environmental Protection Agency reinstated California’s waiver, restoring its authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards.
### Future Plans
The SMMI will continue to collect air quality data through June 2026, with the collected data made available to the public. CARB, local air districts, stakeholders, and the community will use this information to guide efforts in addressing pollution concerns.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dr. Steven Cliff, executive director of the California Air Resources Board, said: “By meeting communities where they are and listening to their concerns, we’re building an air quality monitoring system that integrates the lived experiences of those most impacted by air pollution. The Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative represents an unprecedented opportunity to gather detailed information needed to better protect public health in neighborhoods that have historically borne the brunt of environmental injustice.”
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What is the primary goal of California Governor Gavin Newsom's Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI)?
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