What’s one thing nurses, climate advocates, and people of faith have in common?
They all showed up to a recent Environmental Protection Agency hearing because they want clean air and a livable climate.
The hearing focused on the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) waiver, which will affirm the California-based standard that aims to slash toxic pollution from the most polluting vehicles on our roads by increasing the purchase of zero-emission trucks. The ACF will require certain fleets in California to gradually phase in the use of zero-emission vehicles over time.
The Sierra Club played an important role for many years advocating for the California Air Resources Board to adopt a strong rule.
If you missed the hearing, you can submit a comment in support of the ACF waiver here: sc.org/EPATrucks
Sierra Club staff and volunteers had a strong presence at the hearing and gave powerful personal testimony to urge EPA to grant the ACF waiver to California. Check out excerpts from some of the testimonies:
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This issue is important beyond the bounds of California. The reality is that the pollution from diesel trucks is a nationwide issue. These trucks are loud, they’re dirty, and they emit a range of harmful air pollutants that cause respiratory issues and cancer, in addition to greenhouse gas emissions that fuel the climate crisis.
🗣️MFN and our members are HERE and SPEAKING UP at @EPA’s hearing on the #AdvancedCleanFleets waiver happening NOW. EPA must grant the ACF waiver in full and without delay! #ZeroMustMeanZero! pic.twitter.com/fkgsPNay0A
— MovingForwardNetwork (@The_MFN) August 14, 2024
Pollution from heavy-duty vehicles is also a grave environmental injustice. Heavy truck traffic is worst around warehouses, ports, and rail yards, and because of a history of redlining, that’s where people of color often live and disproportionately suffer the harmful health effects of truck pollution. In 2022, Sierra Magazine published an interactive story on the impacts of warehouses and increased truck traffic on communities. As e-commerce continues to expand, the urgent transition to zero-emission trucks is even more dire.
Several companies testified in support of the ACF waiver because of the economic benefits. The ACF standard will help establish market certainty for the zero-emission vehicle industry, and it will boost job creation in charging infrastructure installation and improve operational efficiency for fleets.
Love seeing @wattevinc, a leader in electric trucking, be a part of the solution by urging @EPA to grant the #AdvancedCleanFleets waiver! ⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/XOy2mKiSTK
— Sierra Club Live (@SierraClubLive) August 14, 2024