American Lung Association Applauds Adoption of Zero Emission Trucking Rule 

On Thursday, December 30, New York  joined the growing list of states taking bold action on zero-emission transportation to protect the public from harmful trucking pollution. The Advanced Clean Trucks rule ensures New York will see increasing levels of zero-emission trucks in the coming decades as it seeks to reduce harmful air and climate pollution. The rule was initially developed by California in 2020 and has since been adopted by numerous states including New Jersey and Massachusetts while still more states are moving through approvals.  

Following New York’s approval of the Advanced Clean Trucks rule to ensure a transition to zero-emission technologies in the trucking sector, American Lung Association Director of Public Advocacy, Trevor Summerfield, issued the following statement:  

“The rapid shift to zero-emission transportation is vital to improving lung health and saving lives.  Eliminating pollution from trucks is a major win for community health, for worker health and for climate health. Everyone deserves to breathe clean and healthy air, but we know that serious disparities exist in pollution burdens. Too many low-income communities and communities of color are exposed to unhealthy air quality from the diesel truck traffic of nearby highways, ports, warehouse distribution centers and other diesel hot spots. The adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks rule means that New Yorkers — especially those most burdened by pollution — will breathe less deadly exhaust due to the increasing rollout of truly clean, non-combusting engines. We are hopeful that more states will adopt the rule in the coming months."