Clean Cars Standards Deliver Cleaner Air

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its latest set of clean car standards that will cut carbon emissions and other tailpipe pollutants starting in 2027. These final standards will deliver major carbon reductions, save drivers money on fuel and maintenance, and reduce asthma attacks, heart disease, and other illnesses.

The following is a statement from Manish Bapna, president and CEO of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“This is where the rubber meets the road on climate. These commonsense standards will slash the source of a fifth of the nation’s carbon footprint. 
      
“Over time, these rules will prevent more carbon pollution than the entire U.S. economy coughs up in a year. They’ll save drivers money at the pump and cut tailpipe pollution that endangers public health.
        
“In the longer journey to confront the climate crisis, these standards take us in the right direction. They signal a commitment to stay the course, build on gathering momentum and see the mission through to its finish. That’s what confronting the climate crisis demands.”

Background:

Transportation is the largest source of carbon pollution in the United States, and cars and trucks contribute more than 80 percent of those emissions. These car, SUV, and pickup truck standards will cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than seven billion tons over 2027-2055—that’s more than the total greenhouse gas emissions of the entire United States in one year. 

The standards will also save drivers money on fuel and maintenance: The EPA estimates that drivers will save up to $6,000 over the lifetime of the vehicle. A recent analysis from Atlas Public Policy found that buying, fueling, and maintaining an electric vehicle is less expensive than a similar gasoline model across all light-vehicle types. In many cases, the EV sticker price is about the same as that of a gasoline vehicle.

These EPA pollution standards will be followed in the coming weeks by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s fuel economy standards. These two separate rules do different things and have different goals, but they also work in tandem to ensure that cars are cleaner and are less reliant on oil.

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, Beijing, and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at http://www.nrdc.org and follow us on X @NRDC.