Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by consumers.
Skip to Main ContentThe payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.
Re-activateJust as the United Nations climate summit got under way in Denmark this week, the United States took a dramatic step toward reducing global-warming emissions--whether or not the summit brings an agreement. In a long-anticipated move, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared carbon dioxide, a global-warming gas, is a pollutant. Given that CO2 emissions is directly proportional to fuel consumption, the door is opened for the agency to regulate CO2, which could result in dramatically more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.
The EPA was one of several parties to an agreement between federal agencies, several states, automakers, and environmental groups who agreed to a single, unified and more stringent set of fuel economy standards for cars and trucks early in the Obama administration. The EPA is also focused on emissions from stationary sources.
The United States is the second-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, after China. Cars and trucks account for about 40 percent of U.S. CO2 emissions. Unlike other pollutants regulated by the EPA, there is no way to filter out carbon dioxide from tailpipes. CO2 is a direct byproduct of burning fossil fuels, and the only way to reduce CO2 emissions is to burn less fuel.
The move is seen as a prod to get Congress to pass a carbon cap-and-trade bill, which it is expected to take up next year. The cap-and-trade bill would expand the number of industries asked to contribute to smaller carbon emissions beyond transportation.
But even if CO2 limits don't emerge from the UN conference or Congress, new carbon limits from the EPA would have an affect on the cars Americans drive in the future.
— Eric Evarts
Build & Buy Car Buying Service
Save thousands off MSRP with upfront dealer pricing information and a transparent car buying experience.
Get Ratings on the go and compare
while you shop
