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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Climate Alliance — a bipartisan coalition of governors representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the U.S. population — issued the following statement in response to the final rule released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishing new, more protective federal standards for greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutant emissions for light- and medium-duty vehicles, for model years 2027 and later:
“The Biden administration and the Alliance’s states and territories are propelling America toward a future where our air is cleaner, our communities are healthier, and our economy is booming,” said U.S. Climate Alliance Executive Director Casey Katims. “It’s critical we stay the course, and we welcome EPA’s historic action to rapidly curb harmful carbon pollution from passenger cars and trucks.”
Today’s action follows letters from the Alliance, written last February and June, to both President Biden and EPA expressing support for finalizing strengthened vehicle emissions standards.
Last month, the Alliance also encouraged EPA’s timely approval of California’s waiver request under the Clean Air Act for the Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which empowers states to further accelerate the adoption of zero-emission light-duty vehicles. A decision from EPA is pending.
Launched on June 1, 2017 by the governors of Washington, New York, and California to help fill the void left by the previous administration’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, the Alliance has grown to include 24 governors from across the U.S. representing approximately 60% of the U.S. economy and 55% of the U.S. population. Governors in the Alliance have pledged to collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, at least 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030, and collectively achieve overall net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as practicable, and no later than 2050.
The Alliance’s states and territories continue to demonstrate that climate action goes hand-in-hand with economic growth, job creation, and better public health. While reducing emissions by 18% between 2005 and 2021, Alliance members grew their collective GDP by nearly 30%. The coalition’s states and territories are employing more workers in the clean energy sector, achieving lower levels of dangerous air pollutants, and preparing more effectively for climate impacts and executing more pre-disaster planning than the rest of the country.
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