Protective Clean Car Standards Will Reduce Pollution, Save Money, Be a Gift to All Americans

Statement of EDF President Fred Krupp

December 20, 2021
Sharyn Stein, 202-905-5718, sstein@edf.org

“Today EPA announced the most protective clean car standards our nation has ever adopted to address the climate crisis. The standards are a holiday gift for all Americans. They’ll save us hard-earned money at the gas pump, deliver healthier air to our communities, and cut climate pollution.

“Today’s standards apply to model year 2023 to 2026 new cars and passenger trucks, and correct damaging action by the past administration to unravel our clean car safeguards. Today’s innovative standards put our nation on the road to a clean transportation future where we eliminate tailpipe pollution, create new manufacturing jobs, and become global leaders in the race to zero-emitting vehicles. EPA projects sales of new zero-emitting vehicles will reach 17 percent in model year 2026. Today’s action is a crucial foundation for ensuring all new sales are zero-emitting vehicles by 2035, as is necessary to achieve science-based reductions in climate pollution.

“Now we must accelerate progress, building from today’s action. The next leg of our journey must include rigorous multipollutant standards for new cars and trucks in model year 2027 and beyond that reflect the availability of zero-emission vehicles and their economic benefits for all Americans. The next generation of standards are essential for us to reach the finish line and ultimately to have a world free from all transportation pollution. We congratulate EPA on today’s achievement and look forward to the road ahead.”

            - Fred Krupp, president, Environmental Defense Fund

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One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 2.5 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund