Not all forms of transportation pollute in the same way—or with the same impact. Light-duty vehicles, like cars, SUVs, and small trucks make up the majority of our nation’s transportation pollution. Heavy-duty vehicles, like semi-trucks and buses, represent fewer of the vehicles on the road, but a disproportionate amount of the carbon pollution—and are far worse for public health. Diesel engines, which heavy-duty vehicles often run on, create diesel particulate matter (PM), which is strongly linked to heart and lung disease, birth defects, and premature death. We need to address pollution from both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles to tackle the intersecting climate and public health crises—and fortunately, we can.

How Do We Cut Pollution from Cars, Small Trucks, and SUVs?

Transportation is the most polluting sector of the U.S. economy, and light-duty vehicles make up the largest share of that pollution. Fortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a proven, effective tool to address this particular type of pollution: the light-duty vehicle standard. In March 2024, President Biden’s EPA finalized a light-duty vehicle standard that set the strongest-ever limits on tailpipe pollution from cars and SUVs for model year 2027 and beyond. This announcement sets the stage for a majority of cars, SUVs, and small trucks sold in the U.S. to be all-electric or hybrids by 2032. Setting strong pollution reduction standards for light-duty vehicles is a win-win, reducing climate pollution and improving public health.

Learn more about clean car standards →

Est. read time: 6 minutes

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How Do We Build Out Charging Infrastructure for Electric Trucks?

In March 2024, the Biden administration announced the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy. This plan will coordinate and accelerate billions in cross-sector investments to build the charging infrastructure needed to electrify many trucks quickly and achieve a completely zero-emission freight network by 2040. This approach is in line with the national strategy for freight electrification Evergreen and other movement partners have been calling for. This proposal will coordinate federal funding effectively, bring unprecedented federal and private sector investment to communities across the country, nudge automakers in the right direction, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and clear up the decades-long air pollution in port and freight communities. 

Learn more about cleaning up our freight supply chain →

Est. read time: 9 minutes

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Why Must the Future of the Auto Industry Be Unionized?

A fair transition to clean energy doesn’t just mean deploying clean energy technology—like electric cars and batteries—it means supporting the working class, creating good jobs, and investing in communities. The electric vehicle (EV) transition is an opportunity to raise autoworker standards, not lower them, by shifting power away from corporations and back to working families. 

Learn more about the connection between climate and labor →

Est. read time: 9 minutes

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How Do We Make Trains a Climate Soltuion?

Trains should be a climate solution. But in the U.S., the outdated, polluting freight system is causing both climate change and environmental injustice. The vast majority of poorly regulated trains carry freight, not people, and are not electrifying in the same way as passenger rail, cars, and trucks are. More than 13 million people in the U.S. live or work near railyards, rail lines, and ports and are impacted by locomotive pollution linked to heart and lung issues. In November 2023, EPA took action, consistent with Evergreen and other climate advocates’ recommendations, and revised its old locomotive preemption rule.

Learn more about EPA's locomotive rule →

Est. read time: 8 mins

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How Do States Cut Transportation Pollution and Create Jobs?

It’s not just federal policies and standards that have the ability to move the needle on addressing transportation pollution. States have a role to play, too. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program is one of the first Justice40-compliant programs to be rolled out and has been implemented by every state. It’s an opportunity to learn and reflect: What does equitable programming look like in practice, and what can—and must—we improve? 

Learn more about the NEVI program →

Est. read time: 11 minutes

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