Lung Association Applauds NHTSA’s Stronger Final Cleaner Cars Rule

In response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalizing rules that update Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for light-duty vehicles model years 2024-2026, Paul Billings, National Senior Vice President of Public Policy for the American Lung Association, issued the following statement:

“Today’s final rule is an important step in addressing the air pollution and climate change burden of vehicles. 

“The new standards finalized by NHTSA today will strengthen fuel efficiency standards for cars, SUVs and pickup trucks. In alignment with the cleaner cars standards that EPA finalized in December, this rule will reduce the fossil fuels consumed by new vehicles and the greenhouse gases they emit.

“We applaud NHTSA for listening to the calls of the Lung Association and other health experts and finalizing a stronger rule than the original option proposed. The final rules will increase the health and climate benefits of the rule. 

“Now that both EPA and NHTSA have finalized these cleaner cars standards, both agencies must work urgently to propose and finalize stronger greenhouse gas and CAFE standards for future cars, in order to drive the transition to all new sales of zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

“Just this week, the American Lung Association released a new report that found that a nationwide transition to zero-emission vehicles, powered by non-combustion renewable electricity, could result in up to 110,000 avoided deaths and $1.2 trillion in public health benefits over the next 30 years.

“A nationwide transition to zero-emission cars and trucks is reasonable, achievable and popular. Earlier this year, the American Lung Association released a poll showing that 74% of voters supported the federal government setting stronger standards on tailpipe emissions from passenger cars and trucks, with the amount of emissions allowed declining over time. A zero-emission future is a health imperative."