Sierra Club Denounces Trump Administration’s Indefensible Attack on States’ Freedom to Curb Vehicle Pollution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Donald Trump tweeted out that his Administration is revoking the Clean Air Act waiver that allows California to adopt and enforce stronger greenhouse gas emissions standards on new cars and light trucks than the federal government’s. It also allows the state to require auto manufacturers to sell increasing numbers of electric vehicles in the state.

EPA’s revocation of California’s waiver has wide-reaching implications - it also affects the population in 14 states plus D.C. that have adopted these stronger restrictions on pollution from cars, and 11 states that have adopted the Zero Emission Vehicle standards.  The clean car standards protect the environment and the public health of more than 118 million people, upwards of 40 percent of the U.S. population.

In response, Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, released the following statement: 

“Donald Trump is committing an unprecedented and illegal attack on the Clean Air Act that will increase pollution in our communities and steal money from people’s wallets. This move is nothing more than pure vindictiveness from an Administration set on giving Big Oil a polluting pass at the expense of our climate and the well-being of American families.

For four decades, the Clean Air Act has granted states the right to protect their residents from dangerous air pollution caused by transportation. Trump’s actions will not go unchecked. The Sierra Club will challenge this indefensible attack in court and hold this administration accountable.”