American Lung Association: Rule to Weaken Fuel Efficiency Standards Will Result in More Air Pollution, Harm Health

Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a final rule that weakens the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for new vehicles. In response, the American Lung Association’s President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued the following statement:

“Today’s rule to weaken fuel economy standards will create more air pollution, harm health and accelerate climate change. For decades, fuel economy standards have ensured that new cars, SUVs and pickup trucks are more efficient, which saves lives and money. There is no reason to weaken standards that are technologically feasible and have a direct benefit for the quality of the air people breathe.

“Standards that ensure more efficient cars and pickup trucks are important for the nation’s health. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of traffic pollution, which can impede lung growth, cause new cases of pediatric asthma, make asthma symptoms worse and increase kids’ risk of respiratory infection and diseases. Nearly half of kids in America are already breathing polluted air. Weakening efficiency standards means new cars will burn more gas and create more air pollution. It makes cars more costly to drive and will further drive up health care costs for families.

“Cleaning up new cars also has widespread public support. A poll released by the Lung Association found that a strong majority of voters supported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency setting stricter limits on emissions from light-duty vehicles like cars or pickup trucks. 

“Unfortunately, this is one of many rules that we have seen over the past year that will create more air pollution and harm the health of families across the U.S. The American Lung Association will continue to advocate for clean air and healthy lungs and push back against these harmful rollbacks.”