Governors representing more than half of the United States population stand up for clean cars

Media Contacts
Morgan Hayward

Former Director, Destination: Zero Carbon, Environment America

Morgan Hayward

Former Director, Destination: Zero Carbon, Environment America

Environment America

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of 24 governors representing more than half of the US population is calling on the Trump administration to stop the rollback of the Clean Car Standards. The Clean Car Standards were set to double fuel economy, and would have cut global warming pollution in half for cars sold in 2025. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s own estimates, their rollback would increase petroleum consumption by 500,000 barrels per day, exacerbating the effects of global warming.

Alongside their rollback of America’s most effective carbon emissions reduction program, the Trump administration is also challenging states’ authority under the Clean Air Act to adopt stronger tailpipe pollution standards. For more than 50 years, states have set stronger limits on tailpipe pollution when federal standards fail to protect their citizens.

Morgan Folger, Clean Cars campaign director at Environment America, released the following statement:

“Just a few weeks into summer, we’re already seeing record-breaking heat waves and communities inundated by flooding — events that scientists say might have been exacerbated by global warming. We have to address the root cause of this problem, and that means tackling transportation emissions — the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in America. We’re spinning our tires, when we should be accelerating toward a cleaner future.

“By setting stronger standards for the millions of cars, SUVs and pickup trucks on our roads, California is taking the necessary action to protect Americans from dirty air and an increasingly unstable climate. It is unconscionable for the Trump administration to get in the way of that progress, and we stand with the bipartisan group of 24 Governors pledging to support the standards.”