What if you learned about a state initiative that takes cars off California’s congested roads, cuts fuel consumption, and lowers carbon dioxide emissions — all backed by years of data and requiring no new technology or infrastructure? What if it saved taxpayers a quarter-billion dollars annually?
Wasim Ali
As an air resources engineer with the California Air Resources Board, I can confirm that a policy already exists to accomplish those goals: state employee telework. For six years, I’ve watched it deliver exactly what my colleagues and I work to achieve daily — reduced emissions and cleaner air.
You’d assume Gov. Gavin Newsom, who touts California’s climate leadership on the global stage, would champion and expand such a policy. Instead, his administration plans to require state employees to double their in-office days from two to four days per week, starting July 1.
That’s why Professional Engineers in California Government urges the Legislature to support Assembly Bill 1729 to strengthen our state’s environmental stewardship and leadership by fortifying its commitment to flexible telework for state employees.
The measure, introduced by Assemblymember Alex Lee, would codify telework as a core component of state employment. It requires departments to develop and maintain robust telework programs and implement them in situations “identified as being both practical and beneficial to the organization.” The bill also mandates regular public reporting on emissions reductions, fuel savings and other benefits the program achieves.
Currently, the state’s policy provides telework “to the fullest extent possible,” but that has all the force of a polite suggestion. AB 1729 would prevent administrations from arbitrarily rolling back a proven climate solution and establish telework as a permanent tool in California’s environmental toolkit.
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When COVID-19 triggered the state’s vast expansion of telework in 2020, the environmental impact was extraordinary.
State data from 2022 and 2023 show that teleworking eliminated 1.08 billion commuter miles — equivalent to 2,258 round trips to the moon. The policy saved state employees a cumulative 27.2 million hours of commute time, or more than 3,100 years of driving.
The environmental outcomes: 44.2 million gallons of gasoline were not burned, and nearly 393,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide was kept out of the atmosphere.
These are measurable climate wins that align perfectly with California’s quest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease congestion on public thoroughfares. Bringing tens of thousands of state employees back to the office four days a week only adds vehicles to California’s already congested roads, increasing gas consumption, pollution and commuter frustration.
A vast body of research indicates telework is good business, too. Productivity studies, departmental audits, and internal reviews consistently show remote and hybrid teams have maintained or even improved efficiency.
Good government operations don’t have to come at the planet’s expense.
Wasim Ali is an air resources engineer and a member of the bargaining team of the Professional Engineers in California Government.
So let me get this straight, Mr. Ali… You want the government to pass legislation that benefits state workers only and nobody else? Sounds discriminatory. You claim that this policy will reduce emissions which will result in cleaner air. By how much? Let’s say it is 40%. Then I’d propose the better option is to axe 40% of the number of state workers to achieve the same goal. Not only that, this option saves untold $billions in taxpayer funds.
I fully expect that if this legislation is passed, it will be challenged successfully in court. If not, what’s next, legislation mandating state worker savings accounts is guaranteed 10%? State workers are allowed to buy gas or anything else at a discount? State workers don’t need to stop at STOP signs?
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So let me get this straight, Mr. Ali… You want the government to pass legislation that benefits state workers only and nobody else? Sounds discriminatory. You claim that this policy will reduce emissions which will result in cleaner air. By how much? Let’s say it is 40%. Then I’d propose the better option is to axe 40% of the number of state workers to achieve the same goal. Not only that, this option saves untold $billions in taxpayer funds.
I fully expect that if this legislation is passed, it will be challenged successfully in court. If not, what’s next, legislation mandating state worker savings accounts is guaranteed 10%? State workers are allowed to buy gas or anything else at a discount? State workers don’t need to stop at STOP signs?
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.