Clean Transportation

Clean Transportation

Clean Transportation

Revolutionizing our transportation systems is a crucial piece of Sierra Club's work to ensure we all can live in healthy communities, move around safely, and build a future powered by renewable energy.



What is clean transportation?

We all want to breathe clean air and protect our families from toxic pollution and climate change. Unfortunately, transportation is currently our nation's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and a major source of air pollution. To build a livable future, we must shift away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles and towards clean, renewable transportation.

Right now, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to make it harder to drive clean cars, which will increase how much money you spend at the pump. We can stop them, but we need your help to protect access to public transportation, electric vehicles, and other clean transportation options.

Over the lifetime of the vehicle, a gas car puts out 4.5x more carbon pollution and infinitely more toxic tailpipe air pollution than an electric car.

Why is clean transportation essential?

We all want to breathe clean air and protect our families from toxic pollution and climate change. Unfortunately, transportation is currently our nation's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and a major source of air pollution. To build a livable future, we must shift away from combustion vehicles and towards clean transportation.

Victory!

In a landmark legal win for clean transportation, a federal court has permanently barred the Trump administration from freezing funds for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program – that is, a $5 billion federal initiative to build reliable, high-speed electric vehicle charging stations along America's highways!

The ruling means all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico now have the legal certainty they need to move forward building a nationwide charging network, free from unlawful interference. Sierra Club and partners brought this case on behalf of members who were directly harmed by the freeze.

This is what people power looks like: Sierra Club members standing up to protect clean transportation investment, cleaner air, and better access to affordable electric vehicle driving for everyone.

December 8, 2023

LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, the Biden-Harris administration announced $8.2 billion in new funding for 10 major passenger rail projects across the country.

December 6, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Republicans pushed forward a piece of legislation – H.R. 4468 - that would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing its proposed clean car standards, necessary to protect the environment and public health. 

December 5, 2023

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – On the United Nations’ Climate Conference of the Parties (COP28) Transportation Day, December 6, the Sierra Club is calling on the Biden administration to adopt strong clean vehicle standards to advance the U.S. away from polluting cars, trucks, and buses.

November 29, 2023

Dover, DE – Delaware has joined eleven other states that have adopted the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule to become a leader in clean transportation. Regulators announced today that Delaware will be moving forward with the rule that sets gradual new electric vehicle (EV) sales targets reaching 82% through model year 2032. Delaware, having previously adopted state clean car standards, is for the first time adopting a zero-emission vehicle sales target. Delaware will officially be the first state to make such a leap in policy.

November 22, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration finalized a rule that will require state Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to establish performance measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from their transportation plans and programs.

November 15, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – Today is the two year anniversary of the Biden-Harris administration's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) being signed into law.

November 6, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC - On Friday, the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration announced millions to fund 41 port improvement projects in communities across the nation through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). The money comes from the Infrastructure and Investment Act, passed in November 2021.

October 30, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – The United Auto Workers has announced tentative agreements in their contract negotiations with the “Big Three” Automakers: General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis. 

October 18, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a final “endangerment finding” about the harmful health impacts of lead pollution from certain small airplanes, which will trigger legal requirements for the EPA and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue regulations to address this dangerous source of pollution.

October 6, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United Auto Workers announced progress in their contract negotiations with one of the “Big Three” Automakers – General Motors – stating that the automaker has agreed to include battery production workers in the UAW contract, one of the key demands of the union.