Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
GLOBAL - Today, a coalition of corporate watchdog and environmental groups, Sierra Club, Ekō, and Public Citizen, sent petitions from over 50,000 and counting of their supporters to four trucking giants – Daimler Truck North America, Volvo North America, International Motors, and PACCAR – urging them to drop their lawsuit against California that would stall progress on electric trucks.
People from more than 30 countries around the world have signed the petitions.
In 2023, these truck manufacturers signed the Clean Truck Partnership (CTP), an agreement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), committing them to build electric trucks, regardless of any future policy shifts. Instead of honoring their commitment to the CTP, these companies filed a lawsuit against CARB in August to back out of the agreement.
“These truck manufacturers are turning their backs to their commitment to truck drivers, fleets, and communities eager to receive the economic and health benefits of electric trucks,” said Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All Director Katherine García. “Thousands of our members are calling on them to reverse course and deliver the clean air they promised.”
“Diesel trucks are dragging us back into the dark ages. Instead of fuelling the climate crisis and air pollution, truck giants should be leading the sector's electrification. People from all around the world are demanding these manufacturers drop the lawsuit, drop diesel and get up to speed with electric trucks,” said Nish Humphreys, Campaigns Manager at Ekō.
Background: Together, these four truckmakers make up the majority of heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. For instance, Daimler controls 40 percent of the U.S. truck market and Volvo controls 15 percent.
Globally, big trucks make up only three percent of vehicles on the road but are responsible for 86 percent of nitrogen oxide pollution and 30 percent of carbon emissions from the transportation sector. In the U.S., this pollution is heavily concentrated in communities where low-income, Black, and brown families are the most impacted.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About Ekō
Ekō is a community of 23 million people from around the world committed to curbing the growing power of corporations. We want to buy from, work for and invest in companies that respect the environment, treat their workers well and respect democracy. And we’re not afraid to hold them to account when they don’t. For more information visit www.eko.org