EPA finalizes emission standards for light-duty, medium-duty cars

Key takeaways:

• Final EPA standards for model year 2032 light- and medium-duty vehicles lowered greenhouse gas emission levels.
• In 2055, this rule will prevent up to 2,500 premature deaths.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized stricter limits on emissions from model year 2027 through 2032 passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty vehicles, according to a press release from the agency.

“Compared to the existing [model year] 2026 standards, the final [model year] 2032 standards represent a nearly 50% reduction in projected fleet average [greenhouse gas] emissions levels for light-duty vehicles and 44% reductions for medium-duty vehicles,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wrote in the release.

This effort by the EPA is also expected to lower fine particulate matter emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles, increase the number of clean vehicle options and reduce vehicle-related costs.

According to the EPA, several monetary and public health benefits are expected with the final rule on vehicle pollution. The rule will:

• result in $99 billion in annual net benefits;
• avoid 7.2 billion tons of carbon emissions through 2055;
• prevent up to 2,500 premature deaths in 2055;
• decrease fine particulate matter and ozone pollution; and
• lower the prevalence of heart attacks, respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular illnesses, aggravated asthma and lung function decline.

Just last month, the EPA also finalized a change to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particulate pollution from 12 µg/m³ to 9 µg/m³.

Both the pollution standard and the new vehicle emission standards will help combat poor air quality. Importantly, these standards will have a great impact on those living along highways who are more likely to breathe in harmful pollutants from vehicles.

In response to this finalization, Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, expressed his approval of the new standards and the need for continued efforts to clean up the air.

“The Lung Association now calls on President Biden and EPA to continue its work finalizing clean air and climate protections, including strong final cleaner trucks standards, measures to ratchet down on toxic air emissions from burning coal and set much-needed limits on carbon pollution from power plants,” Wimmer said in an American Lung Association release.

As Healio previously reported, a poll from the American Lung Association uncovered that more than 70% of registered voters support the call for stricter fine particulate pollution standards and truck carbon emission limits.

Reference:

• Lung Association: EPA’s new cleaner cars standards will improve air quality and public health. https://www.lung.org/media/press-releases/2024-clean-cars-rule-statement. Published March 20, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2024.