By: Hazel Chandler, Arizona State Coordinator, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: May 2, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Hazel Chandler, and I am a field organizer with Moms Clean Air Force representing over 1.5 million moms nationwide and 26,000 moms in Arizona. On behalf of Moms Clean Air Force, I am testifying in support of the proposed standards and call on EPA to finalize strong clean truck standards this year. Our country is at a tipping point regarding the climate emergency and if we do not act immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emission by at least 50% by 2030 the future looks very bleak. The clock is ticking, and we must act now if my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and yours have any hope of a livable future.
With the recent investment in clean energy infrastructure and the recent action by EPA to meet those goals, I have a lot of hope that our children will have a very bright future in a post fossil fuel world.
Strong clean truck standards are critical in meeting these greenhouse gas reduction targets and essential to stimulate the transition to zero-emissions trucks. The vehicles covered by this rule will be on the road for decades to come, so we must transition without delay.
Greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty vehicles are a major contributor to this pollution. In fact, despite making up only 10% of the total number of vehicles on the road, heavy-duty trucks contribute a quarter of the total climate pollution from the transportation sector.
Trucks are also major sources of other deadly air pollution, so strong standards that lead to zero-emission vehicles could make a significant impact. Heavy-duty trucks account for more than 60% of the deadly particle pollution that comes from vehicles. Particle pollution cuts short tens of thousands of US lives per year and contributes to the heavy burden of asthma on our nation’s children. As a person living with asthma and an asthma educator, I have seen first-hand how low-income Be courageous and make the strongest decision possible to cut the tailpipe emissions from heavy duty trucks, consistent with the Advanced Clean Trucks rule. Stronger transportation standards are crucial in protecting the health of our children and communities, and it is urgent that we act now. We must act now while we still have some time to mitigate the worst of the climate emergency and begin to build a world we are proud to give our children and grandchildren.
I plead with you to have the courage to enact strong Clean Truck regulations without delay. This would be a dream come true—a world where our children can breathe clean air, while we address climate change while we still have time.