Environmental Organizations Move to Protect EPA’s Clean Car Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, several environmental organizations moved to intervene to defend the Biden administration’s new clean car standards. Finalized in December, these standards will curb emissions from the transportation sector and protect our health and our climate by strengthening the stringency for model years 2023 through 2026 for cars and light-duty trucks. 

The environmental organizations filing a motion to intervene are the Sierra Club, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Law & Policy Center, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Public Citizen, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Earlier this week, several petitioners, including Republican attorneys general, a fossil fuel funded conservative think tank, an oil and gas trade association, and an oil refinery subsidiary, filed lawsuits against the EPA’s new rule. No automakers have joined them.

“This is one of the most important climate rules the United States has on the books. It will slash emissions from the transportation sector. And it is a common-sense action to protect the health of communities from harmful pollution and save American families money on fuel,” said Joanne Spalding, Acting Director of the Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program. “It’s no surprise that those with special interests to keep the US hooked on oil are attacking the EPA’s authority to regulate climate emissions and protect public health. We’ve spent years defending EPA’s vehicle standards against attacks and advocating for them to be as strong as possible, and we will continue to defend them.”