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Cars and Global Warming: Policy Options to Reduce Connecticut’s Global Warming Pollution from Cars and Light Trucks 2005-06-30 carsandglobalwarming.pdf

Executive Summary

As the new home of ConnPIRG's environmental work, Environment Connecticut can be contacted regarding this report. 

Connecticut could significantly limit its contribution to global warming over the next two decades by implementing a policy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cars and light trucks.

Global warming poses a serious threat to Connecticut’s future. Scientists project that average temperatures in Connecticut could increase by 2° to 8° F over the next century if no action is taken to reduce emissions of global warming pollution— potentially leading to coastal flooding, increased air pollution and heat-related deaths, and a host of other impacts on Connecticut’s environment, public health and economy.

Controlling global warming pollution from the transportation sector—and particularly cars and light trucks—is an essential part of meeting the goals adopted by the Connecticut Legislature and the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

The transportation sector is responsible for more than one-third of Connecticut’s releases of carbon dioxide, the leading global warming gas. Cars and light trucks—such as pickups, minivans and SUVs—are the most important sources of global warming pollution in the transportation sector, responsible for about two-thirds of all transportation sector emissions and about one-quarter of Connecticut’s total emissions of global warming pollution.

Carbon dioxide pollution from cars and light trucks in Connecticut is likely to increase by approximately 20 percent over 1990 levels by 2020 unless action is taken to reduce emissions.

-The stagnation in federal corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for cars and light trucks, the recent shift toward greater use of less fuel-efficient SUVs, and increasing vehicle travel have put Connecticut on a course toward dramatically increased emissions of carbon dioxide from transportation over the next two decades.

Connecticut has already taken an important step to reducing greenhouse gas pollution from cars and trucks by adopting the California Clean Cars program.

-The state’s implementation of the first stage of the program, known as the Low Emission Vehicle II and Zero Emission Vehicle (LEV II/ZEV) program, will pave the way for the widespread introduction of clean vehicles (such as hybrid-electric and fuel-cell vehicles) that could result in dramatic, long-term reductions in carbon emissions. In the process, it will lead to light-duty carbon dioxide emission reductions of about 1.2 percent below projected levels by 2020.

Connecticut can achieve more significant reductions in its carbon dioxide emissions by implementing the vehicle global warming pollution standards in the Clean Cars program at the earliest allowable date.

-California’s standards on global warming pollution from automobiles (also known as the “Pavley” standards for their original legislative sponsor) could produce significant reductions in vehicle global warming emissions as cars are equipped with direct-injection engines, advanced transmissions, improved air conditioning systems, and other advanced technologies. By implementing the program to take effect in model year 2009, Connecticut may reduce carbon dioxide pollution from cars and light trucks by about 13 percent below projected levels by 2020.

-Once the program is fully implemented in 2016, consumers are projected to save $3 to $7 every month as a result of the standards.

-Even with implementation of both components of the Clean Cars program, carbon dioxide pollution from cars and light trucks in 2020 would be only slightly lower than pollution in 2000 because of a large projected increase in vehicle travel. Thus, Connecticut will likely need to adopt additional policies to reduce emissions from the transportation sector if it wishes to achieve the regional goal of reducing overall global warming pollution to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

Connecticut should move quickly to adopt policies that will stabilize, and ultimately reduce, emissions of carbon dioxide from cars and light trucks.

-In 2005, Connecticut should commit to implementing the vehicle global warming pollution standards in the Clean Cars program so that they take effect in model year 2009.

-Connecticut should adopt other programs— such as clean car incentives that encourage individuals and fleets to purchase vehicles with lower global warming emissions, “smart growth” policies that reduce vehicle travel, transit improvements and other measures—that reduce global warming pollution from the transportation sector.