Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced finalized emissions standards for light-duty vehicles model year 2027 through 2032. These safeguards are a historic step forward in cleaning up the U.S. transportation sector–which is responsible for approximately 45% of harmful smog-forming NOx emissions in the U.S.–and protecting our communities from the dangerous tailpipe pollution that harms our air, health, and well-being.
Medical research links traffic pollution to asthma, lung cancer, dementia, preterm birth, and a variety of other health concerns. What’s more, it is low-income communities, Black communities, Tribal and Indigenous communities, and communities of color that face disproportionate harm from vehicle pollution. The finalized cleaner cars standard is an important step toward zero-pollution vehicles, which according to the American Lung Association, carry the promise of eventually preventing an estimated 89,000 premature deaths, 2.2 million asthma attacks, and 10.7 million lost work days.
In response, Tori Goebel, National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA), released the following statement:
“YECA is grateful for this important step toward a pollution free world. The cost of inaction continues to be paid by already overburdened communities facing a host of challenges and harms, including deadly air pollution. We thank the Biden administration for releasing the strongest standards ever for new cars and light-duty trucks sold after model year 2026, a move that will benefit communities and help address the climate crisis. According to the EPA, this move will eliminate enough climate pollution to be equivalent to eliminating all tailpipe pollution for four years. This is a hopeful and meaningful step forward for a clean energy future, and we look forward to continuing the much-needed work of advocating for a wealth of solutions for pollution.”
