The Fuel Efficiency Standards proposed today by the Albanese Government in its National Electric Vehicle Strategy consultation paper are essential to taking meaningful action on climate change and must be adopted now, Greenpeace Australia Pacific says.
With cars and light commercial vehicles counting for 60% of all transport emissions, which is one of Australia's largest sources of climate pollution, Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter says introducing a fuel efficiency standard to hit the brakes on Australia's emissions is a no-brainer. [1]
"Electrifying our transport system is a critical part of addressing the climate crisis, and introducing a fuel efficiency standard is an important step towards doing that," said Ritter.
"Unlocking Australia's supply of affordable, accessible electric cars through strong fuel efficiency standards will slam the brakes on Australia's accelerating transport pollution, protecting our climate and the places we love."
"Australia ranks alongside Russia as one of the only developed economies without fuel efficiency standards, which require car manufacturers to limit climate pollution from the cars they produce. This means big car manufacturers can keep dumping dirty cars the rest of the world rejects in the Australian market."
"The Federal Government can steer Australia's electric transport into the fast lane by introducing strong fuel efficiency standards that will make cleaner electric vehicles affordable and accessible for all Australians."
Notes:
[1] https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-12/australias-emissions-projections-2020.pdf
For a full media briefing on how a fuel efficiency standard will support the uptake of electric vehicles, click here
