Thursday 16 March 2017

Is Trump rolling back car pollution standards?

Donald Trump has ordered a review of tougher vehicle fuel efficiency standards in the US.

The Department of Transport (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will revisit the Obama administration’s rule to increase fuel economy to the equivalent of 54.5 miles per gallon for cars and light duty trucks.

That was expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by six billion tons over the lifetime of new vehicles and save two million gallons of oil per day by 2025.

The DOT and EPA will now determine whether the rules are “appropriate”.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said: “These standards are costly for automakers and the American people. We will work with our partners at DOT to take a fresh look to determine if this approach is realistic. This thorough review will help ensure that this national programme is good for consumers and good for the environment."

He recently said Carbon Dioxide isn’t the main cause of climate change.

Environmental groups panned the move.

Rhea Suh, President of the Natural Resources Defence Council said: “This change makes no sense. Mileage standards save consumers money at the gas pump, make Americans less dependent on oil, reduce carbon pollution and advance innovation.”

Michael Brune, Executive Director of Sierra Club added: “We need to put clean car standards in the fast lane to keep our air clean and our climate safe. Donald Trump and the automakers are endangering the health of our children and families by abolishing lifesaving vehicle emissions protections that cut down on dangerous smog pollution and asthma attacks.”