US to cut CO2 emissions from cars and light-duty trucks

A proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road vehicles in the USA will apply for model years from 2012.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) presented in September a joint proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy in road vehicles.

The standards proposed would apply to passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles, covering model years 2012 through 2016. They require these vehicles to meet an estimated combined average emissions level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per mile (g/mi) in model year 2016, equivalent to 35.5 miles per gallon (mpg) if the automotive industry were to meet this CO₂ level all through fuel economy improvements.

These proposed rules were developed in response to President Obama’s call for a strong and coordinated federal greenhouse gas and fuel economy program for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles (see AN 2/09, p. 21).

EPA proposes to introduce emissions standards for CO₂ based on footprint curves, where each vehicle has a different CO₂ emissions compliance target depending on its footprint value (related to the size of the vehicle). Generally, the larger the vehicle footprint, the higher the corresponding vehicle CO₂ emissions target.

Table: Projected fleet-wide emissions compliance levels under the proposed footprint-based CO₂ standards (g/mi) and corresponding fuel economy (mpg)

The table shows the projected fleet-wide CO₂ emission level requirements for cars and light trucks under the footprint-based approach. These requirements are projected to increase in stringency from 261 to 224 g/mi for cars, and from 352 to 302 g/mi for light trucks, between model year 2012 and model year 2016. The average vehicle CO₂ emissions compliance level for the model year 2016 standard is 250 g/mi, corresponding to 35.5 mpg, if all reductions were made through fuel economy improvements. The proposal and related documents can be found at EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) web site: www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations.htm

In this issue

High Noon for 2°C

The world’s nations agreed to “prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” (Art. 2 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change¹) back in 1992. Until recently, most nations had not agreed what that meant, however.

Pollution treaty to be revised

A revised Gothenburg protocol is expected to include new national emission ceilings for 2020.

Still high ozone levels despite less air pollution

Ozone levels remain largely unchanged in many European countries, even though emissions of the air pollutants involved in ozone formation have been reduced significantly.

Ministers water down pollution legislation

EU environment ministers have agreed to water down proposals for stronger industrial pollution control.

North American ECA met by approval

The process of establishing an emission control area (ECA) off the North American shores has taken a step further.

Shipping climate policy continues to drift

Once again, the IMO has failed to adopt binding measures to reduce emissions from international shipping.

Cutting ship fuel sulphur may save 45,000 lives

Lowering the sulphur content of fuel used in shipping could prevent upwards of 45,000 premature deaths a year by reducing exposure to fine particles.

Commission scrutinizes air quality derogations

The EU Commission has approved time extensions for 19 air quality zones, but raised objections to 75 other proposed exemptions.