A Few Years Ago We Were Lobbying The Canadian Government for Higher Standards for Car Emissions

This is an update of that post, and an encouragement for others to take similar actions.

Encourage government to adopt clean cars laws. New requirements can significantly reduce vehicle emissions.

How to do it

Use your voice to encourage our lawmakers to adopt California's Clean Car standard. Write letters to the Prime Minister and speak to your local government representatives. This is the time to speak up: Canada's outdated vehicle emissions regulations are under review, and voluntary agreements with the auto sector will soon expire. A personal note from you will have greater impact than many form letters or emails. For best effect, make your request for action clear encouraging, and address only one issue. Here are some suggested points you can make:

1. The government's promise to update the fuel efficiency requirements for Canadian cars is welcome and long overdue (some praise and encouragement always helps!).
2. I urge you to adopt the California Clean Car Standard (the request should be clear and emphatic).
3. The rules put in place by Governor Schwarzenegger are achievable and widely accepted; almost 20 states are adopting them, and nine provinces have endorsed them (provides evidence that it is technically and politically feasible).
4. Please resist pegging Canada's standards to the less efficient US national average; that would put Canada behind the pack in the North American market, damage our ability to fight climate change, burden consumers with higher-than-necessary fuel bills (tell them what you don't want, as well as what you do want).
5. The federal government has the ability and the responsibility to regulate pollution and fuel economy in cars. I urge you to demonstrate strong leadership by passing the California-level emission standards as soon as possible (re-state your request).
6. I look forward to hearing from you (always ask for a response). A letter to the Prime Minister needs no postage, and should be addressed to:
   The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
   Prime Minister of Canada
   Langevin Block
   House of Commons
   Ottawa, Canada

To find the name and contact information or your member of Parliament, use this link: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

Why you're doing it

A typical car a late-model mid-sized sedan - driven for 20,000 kilometres a year emits four tones of CO2. Right now, transportation contributes to more than 30 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. The potential for fuel efficiency has improved by 50 per cent since the 1970s, the height of the gas-guzzling era. But because there are more cars on the road today than ever before, and many people are driving larger vehicles that are not fuel-efficient, emissions keep rising. California's Clean Cars law will drive a 30 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from cars by 2016, using only existing and available technology. Canada must proceed in lock-step with California and other progressive states, especially since the Canadian car market is so tightly linked to the US market. Not only will this help our planet, but having access to more fuel-efficient cars can save you a lot of money, especially as gas prices are continually on the rise.