Will banning gas-powered cars help curb climate change?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week issued an executive order that would ban sales of gas-powered cars in the state by 2035. The move comes as California battles another season of intense wildfires, which have been worsened by the effects of climate change.

“Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels, threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines,” Newsom said.

Passenger vehicles are the No. 1 source of greenhouse gases in California, a state famous for its...