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May 27, 2004
Contact:
Andy Weisser, (818) 703-6444, aweisser@earthlink.net
www.californialung.org
or your local American Lung Association at (800) LUNG-USA.
Global Warming Concerns and Need for Cleaner Cars Rank High
on Statewide Public Opinion Poll:
Strong Support for Reducing Car Emissions that Lead to Global Warming;
Car Companies Could Do Better Job Producing Cleaner Vehicles
(EMBARGOED: May 27, 2004, Oakland, CA): Eighty-seven percent of California adults said that it is either very important (61%) or somewhat important (26%) for California to take a leading role in enforcing laws to reduce car emissions that lead to global warming pollution in a May, 2004 Field Research Corporation survey sponsored by the American Lung Association of California. This compares to 11 percent who consider this not too or not at all important. In the same poll, Californians have very mixed opinions of the job automobile manufacturers are doing to produce and market cleaner vehicles, like those using engines powered by natural gas, electricity, fuel cells or hybrid technologies. Statewide, 39 percent give the auto companies an excellent or good rating, 33 percent rate them fair, and 25 percent rate them as doing a poor or very poor job.*
The American Lung Association of California is working to help people understand the negative impacts on air quality and public health of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, as well as the need for cleaner transportation. The central problem leading to greenhouse gas pollution is over-consumption of petroleum, especially in the transportation sector.
Air pollution impact in California is significant; 34 of California’s 58 counties failed one or more of three clean air tests graded in the American Lung Association State of the Air: 2004 report recently released as part of its Clean Air Month in May. The Report details where and why high levels of microscopic, soot-like particles increase the risk of premature death for millions of people, including those with cardiovascular or lung disease. According to the report, 24.3 million people in California are at risk from ozone air pollution (smog), 30.3 million people in the state are at risk from short-term exposure to particle pollution, and 22.7 million Californians are at risk from year-round exposure to particle pollution levels.
According to the California Energy Commission, almost 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in California come from burning petroleum fuels in the transportation sector. Passenger cars and trucks alone are responsible for approximately 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in California. To address the large amount of greenhouse gases emitted from vehicles, California adopted legislation (supported by the American Lung Association of California), AB 1493 (Pavley) that requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to adopt regulations to achieve the “maximum feasible and cost effective reduction” of greenhouse gases from motor vehicles. Existing technology is already available for automobile engines, transmissions, refrigerants, tires, aerodynamics and other areas to significantly reduce greenhouse gases. Use of hybrid-electric vehicles and alternative fueled vehicles such as battery electric, natural gas and fuel cell vehicles can also result in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Global warming is well recognized by scientists around the world as a serious public health and environmental concern. The increase in global warming gases in the atmosphere is primarily due to increased consumption of fossil fuels for industrial uses, power plants, motor vehicles and other uses.
As atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases rise globally, temperatures on earth are increasing. Higher temperatures commonly lead to higher emissions of air pollutants and increased public health impacts. Higher temperatures, strong sunlight and a stable air mass are ideal for formation of ground level ozone.
While reducing greenhouse gases from California vehicles will not, by itself, slow the advance of global warming, it will set the example for other states, the nation and the world. Just as California’s leadership has forced changes in auto emission controls to reduce smog that have been adopted around the globe, California’s leadership in utilization of existing technologies and development of new vehicle technologies to control greenhouse gas emissions can also have global impacts.
The American Lung Association of California provides a number of resources regarding cleaner transportation at:
and also offers free print ads that provide health facts about diesel and tell Californians “There’s Even More You Should Know About Diesel.” They can be downloaded from the association’s Web site at:
For more information about Clean Air Month activities in your area, call your local American Lung Association at 1.800.LUNG.USA or visit www.californialung.org .
*The poll findings are based on a random sampling of 1,003 California adults conducted by telephone in English and Spanish between May 18 through 24, 2004. Results have a sampling error or +/- 3.2 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.
The American Lung Association has long funded vital research
on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. It is the foremost
defender of the Clean Air Act and laws that protect citizens from
secondhand smoke. The Lung Association teaches children the dangers
of tobacco use and helps teenage and adult smokers overcome addiction.
It educates children and adults living with lung diseases, including
asthma, emphysema and tuberculosis, on managing their condition.
With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association
is "Improving life, one breath at a time." For more
information about the American Lung Association or to support
the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit
www.californialung.org.
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