Clean Cars Program

What's New

"Absurd." ¹... "Disgraceful." ²... "A mockery of law and sound public policy." ³

That's what governors, attorneys general and members of Congress have had to say about the Bush administration's decision on December 19, 2007 to stop Rhode Island, California and 16 other states from adopting the Clean Cars Program to cut global warming pollution from cars and trucks.

Even though cars and trucks are one of the largest and fastest-growing sources of global warming pollution... Even though the EPA has granted  permission to go beyond federal standards on 50 previous occasions... Even though the Clean Cars Program program would reduce global warming pollution from new cars and trucks 30% by 2016.

² http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-epa20dec20,0,1603760.story?coll=la-home-center
³ http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/washington/20epa.html?pagewanted=print

How You Can Help

Thank the Department of Environmental Management for adopting rules that will reduce global warming pollution from new cars and trucks 30 percent over the next 15 years, protecting our coastlines and public health.

Brief Summary

Global warming is a real and growing threat for Rhode Island. Rising sea levels threaten our coastlines, and higher temperatures make our air pollution more dangerous.

Changes in sea levels and bay temperatures could have tremendous impacts on Rhode Island's 400 miles of densely populated shoreline and on our marine industry.

In addition, more frequent and intense storms will accelerate beach erosion and increase the cost of insurance along Rhode Island's coastline.

Hotter temperatures also mean more days when the air in Rhode Island is literally unhealthy to breathe.