It’s time For automakers to act on climate

by Andrew Linhardt - 08/05/16 12:05 PM ET

Thanks to the Obama Administration’s fuel efficiency standards, better known as the CAFE standards, the cars and trucks sold today have the technology to decrease oil use, harmful air pollutants, and dangerous greenhouse gas emissions that leave our families sick and our climate in peril. The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent draft technical review (TAR) of the current fuel economy standards shows that not only are these goals reachable, but they’re already working — due to technological innovation, our cars and trucks are cleaner and more efficient than ever before.

After last years record auto sales of 17.5 million and this year’s sales expected to come close that record number, this is good news. While passenger cars drive our oil consumption (and much of our carbon pollution), accounting for about 47 percent of all the oil we burn in the United States, together with the Clean Power Plan, the Obama administration’s clean car standardsare the most ambitious step the United States has ever taken to reduce carbon and other types of air pollution. By raising average fuel economy of passenger cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, these standards will significantly reduce oil use and cut dangerous climate pollution by as much as 6 billion metric tons by 2025—the equivalent to carbon pollution from150 typical coal-fired power plants for an entire year. That’s more than the total carbon emissions from the United States in 2010.

{mosads}When Obama’s fuel efficiency standards were proposed in 2009, automakers stood with the President and agreed that the standards were realistic and achievable. But, with the first step of the midterm review process — the technical assessment report — behind us, some automakers are changing their tone, jeopardizing critical carbon and air pollution reductions by calling for a weakening of these standards. The Auto Alliance, the auto industry’s leading trade group, is falsely claiming the standards are too difficult to reach and that consumers aren’t interested in fuel efficiency.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Automakers are meeting these standards and Americans are eager for fuel efficient cars. Ten percent of vehicles sold last year met standards for 2020 and beyond. Low gas prices aren’t stopping Americans from buying these cars. Just like me, Americans want to do everything they can to keep their families safe. A new report by Consumers Union, the folks behind Consumer Reports and their auto rankings, shows that better fuel economy is linked to higher consumer satisfaction, and overwhelming majorities want automakers to continue to improve fuel economy.

It’s clear that manufacturers can exceed the current 2025 standards of 54.5 miles per gallon after looking at how far ahead automakers are of today’s targets and the rapid rate of technology innovation. These standards are improving the fuel efficiency of vehicles across all classes, spurring innovation, cutting oil use, reducing emissions, and saving drivers money at the pump. And they’re already making a difference — from minivans to sedans to pickup trucks, fuel economy has increased across the board.

With car sales on the rise, it’s imperative that the governmental agencies renewing these lifesaving standards, support cleaner air and healthier families – not the industry insiders who only want incremental progress.

Andrew Linhardt is Sierra Club Transportation Representative.

The views expressed by authors are their own and not the views of The Hill.

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