Any new vehicle emission standards must be realistic and achievable.
Australia’s peak motoring body calls upon the Australian Government to closely examine the factors which led the US Environmental Protection Agency to overnight declare current US greenhouse gas emission standards for light vehicles too stringent and in need of amendment.
The EPA Determination said the 2012 introduction of strict CO2 emission standards has resulted in significant price rises for new vehicles and related negative effects for consumers, including for road safety. The Report says vehicle manufacturers are confronted with many challenges from the strict CO2 emission standards:
“…due to feasibility and practicability, raises potential concerns related to vehicle safety, and results in significant costs to consumers, especially low-income consumers.”
The Determination confirms the need for the Australian Government to ensure vehicle emission standards currently being developed are realistic and achievable.
AAA Chief Executive Michael Bradley said: “This report is a timely reminder of the need to set sensible and achievable CO2 emissions limits for Australian vehicles.
“With the Government due to release new emission standards shortly, it is important it fully consider the factors that led to America setting unachievable targets and the various impacts this has had upon motorists.
“The AAA supports the introduction of a CO2 standard for Australian new light vehicles that is appropriate to Australia’s fleet and requirements, preserves vehicle choice, and delivers credible environmental benefit.”
The EPA determination points to many perverse policy outcomes due to vehicle manufacturers being forced to increase vehicle prices, such as households being unable to purchase new, lower emission vehicles, instead keeping their older, higher emitting vehicles, longer.
The EPA Determination is available here: https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/midterm-evaluation-light-duty-vehicle-greenhouse-gas
ENDS
Media contact:
Jonathan Hawkes
0434 660 801
[email protected]
Follow us on @aaacomms
Australia’s peak motoring body says a lack of publicly available information about Australian roads and the crashes occurring on them makes it impossible to accurately explain such dramatic increases, or the effectiveness of the measures being funded to prevent them.
read more
The latest AAA Transport Affordability Index shows that Australia’s transport cost inflation eased in the June quarter, falling below the consumer price index rate.
read more
Australia’s peak motoring body is greatly concerned by these numbers and the fact that national injuries remain unable to be counted or reported, despite years of promises from governments that such progress on data collection is imminent.
read more