What's New
On March 12, 2008, the Bush administration's Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) announced a flawed new national air quality standard for
ozone "smog" pollution, one of the main pollutants emitted by cars. The announcement seemed to dismiss the requests from dozens of
citizens, elected officials, doctors and public health advocates who
testified in Philadelphia at an EPA hearing in August, 2007, in support
of stronger standards that protect public health. Click here to read our release.
Background
Air pollution from automobiles poses a serious threat to Pennsylvania’s
public health and our environment. Cars and trucks emit pollutants that
create much of the smog pollution that triggers 300,000 asthma attacks
each year in Pennsylvania. These vehicles are also responsible for much
of the global warming pollution that the Commonwealth produces.
Thankfully,
this technology currently exists to dramatically reduce air pollution
from automobiles. The Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program, finalized in
November 2006, will utilize technology to cut smog-forming pollution
from cars by 10 percent and global warming pollution from cars by
nearly 25 percent by 2025.
But industry groups and some
legislators are continuing to threaten to try to roll back or weaken
the program. PennEnvironment is working to ensure that the Clean
Vehicles Program is protected, for the sake of our environment and our
public health.
