Governors Demand Strong Car Standards that Defend Consumers, Climate

Statement by Michelle Robinson, Union of Concerned Scientists

Published Jul 9, 2019

WASHINGTON (July 9, 2019)—Today, governors from 23 states and Puerto Rico, representing a majority of the U.S. population, issued a statement in support of strong clean car standards and opposing the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back emissions and efficiency rules. It’s a sign of momentum for today’s strong national standards and a valuable move in support of consumers and the climate, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

Below is a statement by Michelle Robinson, director of the Clean Vehicles Program at UCS.

“As the Trump administration throws the auto industry into chaos with their plan to dismantle successful vehicle standards, leaders at the state level are showing another way forward. Today’s national car standards have saved drivers $86 billion at the pump since 2010—and clean vehicle rules are one of the most effective climate policies on the books. Across the country, the call to preserve these standards is getting stronger, as today’s statement by 24 governors demonstrates.

“On President Trump’s watch, the federal government has not just abandoned the fight against climate change, but aggressively moved us toward higher emissions. It’s more important than ever that states use every tool at their disposal to cut emissions and move us to innovative, cleaner technologies. This statement shows real leadership and a commitment to a cleaner, safer future.”