Dear Austin EcoNetwork community,

Moments ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed the first national standards to limit global warming pollution in U.S. history.

The proposal would:

• Reduce global warming pollution from automobiles by 21% by 2030.
• Cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 950 million metric tons.
• Save 1.8 billion barrels of oil.
• Save the average consumer more than $3,000 in fuel costs.

EDF President Fred Krupp issued this statement in response:

"This is a critical step to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and curb pollution that threatens our health. It will deliver immediate benefits for the country as Congress crafts comprehensive climate legislation."

Today’s groundbreaking action supports President Obama’s landmark May 19th accord with major automakers, the Governor of California, the United Auto Workers Union, and environmentalists.

Passenger cars and light-trucks emit nearly 20% of America’s greenhouse gases in the form of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofuorocarbons. In April, EPA provisionally found that these four contaminants and two other greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare.

Today’s announcement opens a 60-day public comment period before the rule can be finalized.

Please take a moment to submit your comments in support of this historic rule.

With your help, we will continue our efforts to fight global warming on a variety of fronts. Our top priority remains passing legislation to establish an economy-wide cap on America’s global warming pollution.

Today’s announcement is an important step in our efforts to protect our planet from the catastrophic threats of run-away global warming.

Thank you for your activism and support,
Environmental Defense Fund