Australia’s car industry is trying to kill plans to cut emissions from new cars -- even though the plan will save consumers much more money in the long-term.
This could put people and planet over corporate profit, but it’s under threat from big business and we need your help to save it.
The strongest target would save people thousands of dollars: in the beginning cars will cost more, but this will be offset from fuel savings.
The industry is trying to trash talk the target, but in reality Australia is lagging behind. The EU and the US both have stronger standards than us.
Tell the government to stand strong: implement strong emissions standards for new cars.
The government hasn’t made any decisions yet: it’s currently getting input from industry and other stakeholders. So we have to make sure we have a big community outcry now so industry doesn’t muscle its way on this.
If you take action with the SumOfUs community, together we can help make sure the government acts for the people, and not just in the interests of private profit.
This is not the first time the Australian Automobile Association -- the car industry -- has done something damaging.
Two decades ago, it opposed taxes on leaded petrol, despite the public health benefits of doing so.
We can’t let industry get its way.
From the very beginning, the SumOfUs community has fought to rein in corporate lobbying. We've campaigned to keep big polluters out of climate talks. We've fought huge, global trade deals like TTIP and TPP, which read like corporate wish lists -- and helped make them as good as dead.
Now we need to stand together to make sure that emissions standards work for us, and not the car industry’s bottom line.
Add your voice now: We need strong emissions standards for new cars that protect our health and planet.
More information
The Guardian. 12 July 2017.