Barack Obama: Obama Applauds Modest First Step on Fuel Economy Standards

Says Bolder Action Needed to Solve Climate Crisis

June 22, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the agreement to raise fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, without a mandatory increase in subsequent years:

“For twenty years, as our greenhouse gas emissions rose to new heights and our dependence on foreign oil peaked, America has waited to raise fuel economy standards even one mile.

Today’s agreement makes overdue progress on weaning America off our dependence on foreign oil and fighting climate change. It is a modest step forward – but bolder action will be necessary to solve the climate crisis.

My proposal to raise fuel economy standards would require that they are increased 4 percent each year. Even if we increase fuel efficiency standards to 35 mpg by 2020 – as this bill requires – we cannot allow standards to flatline for another two decades after that. And we must engage in a comprehensive effort to reduce emissions from all transportation fuels, by passing a national low-carbon fuel standard and investing in efficiency.”

Source: Senator Barack Obama