Global Warming News

Federal Government Urged To Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way

As the new home of RIPIRG's environmental work, Environment Rhode Island can be contacted regarding this news release.

Clean cars programs adopted by 10 states to limit greenhouse gas pollution from cars will reduce global warming emissions in 2020 by 64 million metric tons per year, an amount greater than the national emissions of more than 140 nations, according to a paper released February 9 by RIPIRG. Put another way, by 2020 the Clean Cars Programs in these states will eliminate as much carbon dioxide pollution annually as is produced by 63 coal-fired power plants generating enough power for nearly a quarter of U.S. homes.

The Clean Air Act allows states to choose between complying with federal vehicle emission standards and adopting the more protective standards – known as the Clean Cars Program –implemented by the state of California. To date, 10 states including Rhode Island have adopted the Clean Cars Program. Pennsylvania has also adopted elements of the Clean Cars Program and is now engaged in a rulemaking to update and enforce the standards.

“The pollution reductions that will result from the clean cars requirements just in these ten states makes a significant dent in the world’s global warming emissions,” said Matt Auten, Advocate for the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG). “The commitment shown by state leaders, including those here in Rhode Island, should give us hope that we can begin to reverse the pollution that is warming the earth”

These state efforts stand in stark contrast with efforts by Bush Administration agencies and Congress to block efforts to reduce global warming emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration are working to block these efforts by the states to take action to regulate emissions from cars.

“No one should be tolerating efforts by the federal decision-makers and the auto manufacturers to block this kind of progress on global warming,” Auten said. “When it comes to global warming and energy independence, we need to see that our leaders in Washington either lead, follow, or get out of the way,” Auten concluded.

At the same time global warming pollutions is being reduced, depending on how automakers choose to comply with the standards, the Clean Cars Program could reduce gasoline consumption by as much as 7.2 billion gallons per year in 2020 – nearly as much as is consumed by all the vehicles in Florida in a year – and save consumers up to $16.7 billion annually at the pump in 2020.