EDF Calls on California to Keep Its Strong Clean Car Standards and Move Forward in Protecting Health of Millions

(Riverside, CA – March 24, 2017) Experts from Environmental Defense Fund are joining dozens of others today to testify about the importance of clean cars for the health and safety of Californians. The array of pollutants from cars are one of the single largest threats to human health for millions of Californians.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) — the state’s clean air agency — is holding a public meeting in Riverside about the midterm review of their Advanced Clean Cars Program, which addresses climate pollution, smog-forming emissions and other air pollutants from cars and passenger trucks.

“The Advanced Clean Cars Program helps keep dangerous pollution out of California’s air and out of our communities. It protects our children’s lungs, helps keep us all safe from climate change, and reduces the amount of gas we need to use – which saves us all money,” said Quentin Foster, EDF’s California Climate director. “California should keep its strong clean car standards and must make forward progress in providing cleaner, safer air for the communities and families afflicted by air pollution.”

Under the Clean Air Act, California has longstanding authority to set vehicle emission standards that are tailored to its needs — and can be more protective than federal standards. 

CARB worked with the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to develop standards in conjunction with the national Clean Car standards for cars from model years 2017 to 2025. Each agency also committed to conducting a mid-term review for the later year standards (for cars in model years 2022 to 2025).  

CARB released its Advanced Clean Cars Midterm Review Report on January 18, 2017. It concludes that the current standards for cars in model years 2022-2025 should stay as adopted – and found that they will result in equivalent or greater benefits than originally projected for California.

(The Environmental Protection Agency also found, after an extensive and rigorous mid-term review, that the national Clean Car standards should stay as adopted. However, last week the Trump Administration announced that it would reopen that review, which could lead to weakening the standards.)

Today, CARB board members will hear staff recommendations and public testimony about the clean cars program. They will then vote on whether to adopt the recommendations of the mid-term review.

In its testimony, Environmental Defense Fund noted that technologies have been developed and marketed more quickly and cost-effectively than anticipated in 2012 and urged the board to reaffirm California’s commitment to the current standards for model years 2022 to 2025, and to build from this foundation in driving forward to achieve deeper pollution reductions and greater health protections for the millions afflicted by tailpipe air pollution. You can read the full testimony here.

Reducing air pollution from cars and trucks is especially important in California, which has the largest passenger and commercial vehicle fleet in the nation – more than 13 percent of all highway vehicles are registered in California.

Pollution from cars and trucks contributes to smog and climate change. Vehicle pollution is linked to increased asthma attacks, an increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer, and more premature deaths.

The new clean cars are also more fuel efficient, which will save Californians money at the gas pump. People who purchase a new car or truck in 2025 are expected to spend thousands of dollars less on fuel over the lifetime of that vehicle.