Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
Christina Heartquist, christina@sunstonestrategies.org
WASHINGTON - Five major environmental and science groups today released advertisements in papers across the country calling on General Motors, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, and Mitsubishi to drop their attack on the Clean Air Act and stand up for strong clean car standards that help reduce pollution and secure a stable climate.
“We should be producing the cars of the future, not ceding the clean-car market to other countries. It’s unacceptable for these auto executives to side with President Trump as he works to endanger the health and welfare of millions of Americans,” said Gina McCarthy, the president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “These commonsense tailpipe standards create jobs, cut costs at the pump and help us address the climate crisis. If they continue on this path, the auto companies will find themselves on the wrong side of history -- and facing a consumer backlash.”
Top leadership from NRDC, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Sierra Club and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) put their signatures on an open letter that was featured in full-page advertisements and associated media materials in The Washington Post, The Detroit Free Press and The Sacramento Bee.
“Auto industry leaders – including Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW – have recognized that strong clean car standards reduce pollution, advance American innovation, and save families money at the gas pump,” said EDF President Fred Krupp. “It’s time for General Motors, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler, and other auto companies to hit the brakes on their attack on state clean car leadership, one of the most important solutions we have in the race to secure a stable climate.
General Motors, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler, and other automakers have filed in court on behalf of the Trump administration's attack on state clean car leadership, which seeks to gut states’ well-established Clean Air Act authority to adopt stronger vehicle tailpipe pollution standards that protect millions from harmful air pollution. The Trump administration is also moving to roll back popular clean car standards that save Americans money at the pump and reduce climate emissions.
The auto industry is split on the issue, with four major automakers - Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW - each siding with states and announcing support for a voluntary framework to continue making cars that produce less pollution and cost less to drive as well as support state authority under the Clean Air Act.
“Our clean car standards are one of the best policies we have on the books to fight climate change and improve health, particularly for the communities of color and low-wealth communities that are hit hardest by pollution and climate change,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “They have enjoyed bi-partisan support for 40 years. And automakers are meeting them while creating new, family-supporting clean energy jobs. There is no justification for the Trump administration’s attack on communities' health and future.”
Research from Consumer Reports finds that a rollback of clean car standards will impact drivers in every state in the nation, increasing the cost of owning a new vehicle by $3,300 by the time the standards are fully implemented in 2025.
"Transportation is the number one source of climate-disrupting emissions in the U.S.," said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. “It's past time that automakers embrace common sense and take responsibility for their pollution."
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the transportation sector is now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States as well as a major source of smog-forming pollution and deadly particulates. Over 90 percent of the fuel used for transportation comes from fossil fuels.
"If the administration succeeds in rolling back clean car standards, we'll end up burning an extra 250 million barrels of oil in 2030 alone," said UCS President Ken Kimmell. "It will cost drivers $40 billion dollars and add an additional 120 million metric tons of carbon emissions. And siding with President Trump against clean car standards comes with real risks for automakers -- our new poll of Toyota owners shows a one-third decline in Toyota’s favorability after respondents learned that Toyota joined this lawsuit. At this moment of climate crisis, the Trump administration is taking us in exactly the wrong direction. Automakers shouldn’t make the same mistake."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.