Transport is Australia's second biggest source of climate pollution, and most of it’s coming from the exhausts of our cars, utes and trucks.
But we can put our vehicle emissions in reverse! Strong fuel efficiency standards now would make cleaner vehicles more available and affordable to more people in Australia and hit the accelerator on taking CO2 off our roads.
Right now the Australian government is asking us in the community for our input on these standards. It's critical that we lend our voices now to make the standards strong enough to clean up our dangerous vehicle pollution.
Make a comment now for strong fuel efficiency standards to be included in an ACF community submission to the Australian government before the Friday 31 May deadline.
What to include in your comment
In your submission, you can mention that you want the standards to:
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Take effect as soon as possible: Have the standards come into effect as soon as possible, which will be mid-2024, so that we reduce transport emissions from light vehicles now.
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Be tough on pollution: Require all new cars sold in Australia to have zero emissions from 2035, which is in line with limiting global heating to a 1.5-degree rise.
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Insure affordability: Ensure that by 2035 all new cars sold in Australia have zero emissions, creating a second-hand market for low-emissions vehicles sooner.
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Be mandatory and rigorous: Legislate the standards, make them mandatory for all manufacturers, and don’t allow accounting tricks like super credits, offsets etc. that stop the genuine reduction of CO2 emissions.
Read more: 'What are fuel efficiency standards?'
Latest Supporters
Not every one can afford these cars should try to keep our trees to help filter the air as they are disappearing at a fast rate environmental issues first
We must have stricter regulations on vehicle emissions immediately if not sooner. It is disgraceful that Australia has been left behind the rest of the world in this issue. We also need to ensure that there is planning and protection for sensible roadside tree and shrub planting to help remove the air pollution produced by vehicles as well as reducing negative climate and health impacts (heat, UV rays degrading road infrastructure, noise attenuation, air pollution removal, shading, etc).
I am asking the current Federal Government to act responsibly and act immediately to address this situation
Yours sincerely,
Marian F McDuie
Electric vehicles are not the solution to Australia’s pollution problem. They support human rights abuse in poorer countries and they generate insoluble waste problems when the batteries fail. They are much heavier than petrol vehicles and so increase wear and tear on our roads and on cars’ brakes.
They are not the answer to pollution, much of which is produced by the huge fleet of diesel fuelled transport vehicles across the country, also contributing to the degradation of our roads.
Pollution can be reduced by reintroducing rail transport, consuming less and travelling less. In short: changing our behaviour to reduce the human impact on the environment.
Hi, My understanding is that Australia needs fuel efficiency standards so that new vehicles will be required to meet a minimum standard of efficiency. The fact that we don’t have fuel efficiency standards in Australia results in inefficient vehicles using fossil fuels, rather than electric vehicles, entering the country. Electric vehicles are considered to be an important part of the solution to mitigating human induced climate change. We need more electric vehicles and no more hydrocarbon powered vehicles. Fuel efficiency standards should result in more electric vehicles in Aust Rs Apia, which in turn, is expected to drive down prices to a more affordable level. Thank you.
We in Australia are so well placed to be the pclean green sustainable model to the world. The Albanese Government , by drawing together all the elements of clean environment on every level and a ‘gold standard’ transparent and inclusive society which rewards aspiration, of course, adds a Sustainable Jobs Guarantee program as well as taking from the rest of the world the best in high density affordable housing. Now we are talking! It’s time!
We must commit to more public transport,encourage their use and try to convince the public to do more exercise and desist from having a “live affair “with the motor vehicle thus more healthy individuals and less pollution!.
We urgently must take every effort to care for our common home. Please introduce standards on pollution from exhaust fumes. Let’s work together!!
Please promptly legislate fuel efficiency standards that are strong enough to force motor vehicle manufacturers to rapidly phase out polluting vehicles on Australia’s roads. The lack of such standards currently motivates manufacturers to dump their fuel inefficient vehicles on Australia.
Please also implement policies that make fuel efficient vehicles affordable for low-paid people like me.
We need more strict transport fuel efficiency levels. We also need higher level restrictions on pollution in general.
Surely it is time for Australia to align itself with the rest of the world and introduce stronger emission controls on all new vehicles sold. Stop the flood of heavy polluting vehicles coming into the country.
Please limit car size, introduce emission restrictions and enhance public transport and safe cycling options
I do NOT agree with your postulations. You will do nothing but destroy Australia’s competitive economy. Anything we do here will have a totally insignificant effect on Co2 levels in the atmosphere. The downside significantly outweighs the plus.
I urge that fuel efficiency standards be bought in as soon as possible, to help reduce transport emissions to help combat global warming. Furthermore, that all new cars sold in Australia have zero emissions by 2035. Both of these measures should be legislated to be mandatory, with all loopholes for carbon credits, offsets and similar trickery be disallowed. Let’s get serious about reducing carbon emissions!
We need the strongest possible fuel standards now.
I am in favour of the most vigorous low emission standards that can be enforced across our entire transport fleet.
Cost dynamics are driven by uptake, so the sooner we can make the lowest emission options the most economically appealing, the sooner we can deal with this piece of the low carbon future jigsaw.
A combination of sticks for industry, in the form of an enforced, strict, low-emission landscape which they have to operate within, combined with the carrot of making electric and other low or zero carbon-producing transport options as cheap and affordable as possible, will deliver the best outcomes for our carbon footprint from this source of emissions over the medium-short term. It will also strengthening our transport economy in the medium term.
I urge you to look at long term benefits and use a triple bottom-line measure of cost and benefit rather than just focusing on short term fiscal costs, to allow us, as a community, to make decisions that we can be proud of in twenty years time.
Please introduce fuel efficiency standards as soon as possible. It is vital to combat climate change and save our planet.
I was surprised and disappointed Australia hasn’t had stringent standards for clean vehicles. As a country, we should aim for “best standards”, not cheap enough is good enough.
These controls are years overdue and must be installed immediately.
I spent a year and a half building a 50 kmh electric moped. I got it approved by an engineer and registered. The carbon footprint compared to driving my car is not even comparable. Rego in QLD is $379.75. In Victoria a petrol moped with up to 60cc engine is $154.80, my vehicle is an electric equivalent of this. But even in Victoria I am out of luck because all electrical motorcycles will cost $547.50. It just amazes me how this country discourages clean electric vehicles. Surely my efforts to reduce using my petrol car should be encouraged with a cheaper rego like that of a petrol moped in Victoria, ie around $150.
We really need strong emissions standards to reduce pollution and carbon dioxide emissions plus help drive an increase in affordable EVs. Australia shouldn’t be the dumping ground for inefficient vehicles.
I’ve driven a hybrid car for 11 years and I’m proud that I’ve helped reduce emissions. It’s no big deal to adapt your thinking to using new engine types. I’m 79 years old and I’m shocked by the ignorance in our communities about pollution. Many people think it’s the government’s or industries fault and not theirs. We all have to do our bit.
Australia’s cars need more energy efficient and at an affordable price even a hybrid car is better then a petrol or diesel our world can’t continue the way it is
Please act fast.Transport is Australia’second biggest source of climate pollution we need to have new standards ready to act from mid-2024 No later
All new cars sold in Australia must have zero emissions before 2030. We do not have time to delay.
Dont allow manufacturers to use accounting tricks like super credits ,offsets etc .we need genuine reduction of CO2 emissions
Please ensure that Australia has strong vehicle emissions regulations to come into effect as soon as possible. Real reductions in emissions – not offsets or other ways to evade the intentions of regulation.
Government should ensure best quality unleaded fuel available in the fuel stations
Please make sure that mandatory emission standards set a low level for new cars within 5 years and zero from 2035, regulations effective in mid 2024
Bullshit wake up to your selfs you’re just a bunch of scammers and pricks
Please deliver very strong fuel efficiency standards. This will bring in more BEVs and every BEV displaces an ICE vehicle. Every new ICE vehicle commits Australia to approx 20t of CO2 and well in excess of $20,000 (@$1.5/l) leaving our shores for imported oil. We are a Lithium exporter so even if the batteries are imported we still win.
I remember how the exhaust fumes from our family car made it hard to breathe seventy years ago when I was a child.
We need clean air for our families to cut the serious health impacts of a century of vehicle smoke inhalation.
Oil-powered vehicles have been supported by our governments for more than a century. It’s ovderdue to support clean air for my great-grandchildren, sustain rural production in this century, and protect the unique flora and fauna of Australia.
Mandate and ensure compliance of rigorous emissions reduction immediately, and make the change affordable for every Australian.
Act now for the sake of all Australians.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth