Washington, D.C.–In response to EPA’s upcoming announcement on CAFE standards for cars, Natalie Nava, Project Leader at Greenpeace USA issued the following statement:
“The EPA is poised to ignore the 95 percent of Americans who want to improve automotive fuel economy as it prepares to announce possible roll backs to common sense fuel standards put in place during the Obama administration. Weakening clean car standards is bad for the planet, public health, and the auto industry itself. Ford Motor Company and other automakers, through their powerful industry trade group, the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers, have been actively fighting the clean car standards and have been instrumental in pushing for this development behind the scenes.
“The current iteration of fuel standards are based on sound science, which the EPA should be using to make its decision–not pressure from the auto industry. The standards have already delivered large reductions in climate pollution emissions and are on track to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 6 billion metric tons by 2025. They are also projected to spur innovation and new vehicle technologies, which will help create many jobs in an auto industry and help US-based car companies stay relevant in the global marketplace.
“Greenpeace USA condemns the EPA for any efforts to weaken fuel standards and is calling on car companies to keep their promises to the American people and build an industry that is fit for the next generation–one that delivers clean cars and clean air. Instead of trying to rewrite the rules in their own favor, companies like Ford, that have promised to fight climate change and build smart cities, need to make good on their promises. The millions of Americans affected by air pollution, particularly children, the elderly, and communities of color, will thank them.”
Media Contact: Kate Fried, Senior Communications Specialist, Greenpeace USA, [email protected],
(202) 257.0057.
