Transportation sources are the leading cause of air pollution and greenhouse gases causing climate change, with passenger vehicles accounting for 58% of transportation emissions. To mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, the US Environmental Protection Agency has a new proposed rule, Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles, to make future light-duty vehicles (like passenger cars, SUVs, and light pickups) and medium-duty vehicles (like large pickups, package delivery vans, and post office trucks) cleaner for the environment.
This proposal strengthens the 2023–2036 standards by placing more stringent limits on greenhouse gas emissions plus air pollutants such as NOx, non-methane organic gases, and particulate matter pollution starting in Model Year 2027, with the limits getting tighter for Model Year 2032. This proposal also sets strict limits on particle pollution from gasoline vehicles. This rule helps quickly move the automobile industry away from gas-powered cars and toward electric, zero-emission ones.
The American Lung Association found that if the nation transitions to zero-emission light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, along with renewable electricity, we could save $1.2 trillion in health savings and prevent 110,000 premature deaths yearly. These benefits would accrue the most in communities of color, which have suffered a disproportionate burden of air pollution from the siting of our roads and industry.
Your voice matters! The more public comments the EPA receives in support of stronger rules, the more likely they are to pass. Use your voice as a health advocate, and use this guide to submit public comments here. Public comments are open until July 5th.