Breathing clean, healthy air is essential for everyone. In a victory for improving air quality and reducing the impact of climate change, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced stronger national emission standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles.
The Biden-Harris Administration finalized the standards on March 20, 2024. The standards are for vehicles made in 2027 through 2032, and beyond.
EPA says the new standards will cut more than 7 billion tons of carbon emissions and reduce pollution. The decrease will help save $13 billion in annual public health costs due to improved air quality. The new standards will also help speed up the adoption of cleaner vehicle technologies. This includes plug-in hybrid and fully electric cars.
Allergy & Asthma Network supports this move to protect public health and address climate change. The stronger standards will positively impact respiratory health and quality of life.
“Vehicle emissions are a significant contributor to air pollution worldwide and they impact respiratory health,” says Lynda Mitchell, CEO of Allergy & Asthma Network. “Car exhaust emissions include carbon dioxide and fine particulate matter, both of which can be powerful asthma triggers when inhaled. They can affect breathing and lung function, especially in children, and can reduce life span.
“Many people live in areas where pollution levels make the air dangerous to breathe and create a barrier to asthma management. The best solution is to reduce car emissions. We are pleased to see EPA set strong standards on vehicle emissions, with the goal of improving air quality and public health.”
Learn more about Allergy & Asthma Network’s work to reduce environmental health hazards in its policy agenda.
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