July 28, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Jessica Mengistab
Program Manager, Climate & Clean Energy Advocacy
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
jessica@envirn.org
(732) 336-1606
Additional Administrative Steps to Reducing Carbon Pollution from U.S. Transportation Sector
[Washington, D.C.]- Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced its proposed updates to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards starting for vehicles in model year 2027. In response to the proposal, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments Executive Director Katie Huffling issued the following statement:
“The proposed CAFE standard announced by NHTSA is a welcome measure to the necessary reduction of carbon pollution from our country’s cars and light duty trucks. This proposed update is an essential move to curbing climate warming emissions that nurses also know are detrimental to health.”
“NHTSA’s proposed fuel economy standards pair well with this year’s announcement on strengthened clean cars standards for light duty vehicles starting in model year 2027. Since last year, when over 300 nurses in all 50 states urged the Environmental Protection Agency to propose strong long term clean cars standards, nurses have been advocating at all levels of the process for stronger standards. Standards that will help accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles are necessary for the health of people and our planet as we face growing effects of the climate crisis. Nurses are urging NHTSA and EPA to finalize their current proposed rules as soon as possible.”
NHTSA estimates that, if implemented, updated CAFE standards will prevent more than 900 million tons of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of taking more than 233 million vehicles off the road from 2022 through 2050.
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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to promote healthy people and healthy environments by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating evidence-based practice, and influencing policy.
