The Trump administration has recently unveiled its plan to roll back on auto-emission standards. President Obama’s original goal of achieving 54.5 mpg by 2025 would freeze at its 2020 target of 43.7 mpg.

This proposal could affect students, especially the drivers, here at PV High, since the proposal would also revoke California’s special right to set stricter standards than the federal level that was granted under the 1970 Clean Air Act that allowed the state.

Pro

President Trump’s plan, just like many of his past proposals, was met with severe controversy as people such as environmentalists and liberals came out to oppose this rather conservative plan by the current administration.

Despite the controversy, this plan should be pushed as it would provide significant benefits to various aspects of Americans’ lives.

The new proposal, directed by the EPA and the Transportation Department, would “give consumers greater access to safer, more affordable vehicles, while continuing to protect the environment,” according to the article “Make Cars Great Again” written by Elaine L. Chao (Transportation secretary) and Andrew Wheeler (acting administrator of the EPA).

Current regulations, if they were to continue, would provide considerable danger to Americans drivers, especially to those who still drive outdated cars because they are not able to afford newer, more expensive ones.

The proposal would lower the price of newer cars, as auto manufacturers no longer have to abide by emission standards that laid substantial burden on their manufacturing expenses.

The opponents of the proposal argue that current auto-emission standards are necessary and that rolling back on them would seriously threaten the environment, some even doubting the validity of administration’s analysis.

“The administration’s effort to roll back these standards is a denial of basic science and a denial of American automakers’ engineering capabilities and ingenuity,” said John DiCicco, an expert on transportation technology at the University of Michigan.

However, whatever the ingenious method the engineers contrive of, the research expense would still be added to the manufacturing expenses, and there is no guarantee that engineers will be able to accomplish such a feat.

Meanwhile, the American economy and consumers are suffering as the Obama-era regulations continue every day.

If the new proposal were to pass, both the economy and consumers would benefit from it. As government’s intervention in industries decline, America’s capitalist economy would begin to fuel. Consumers, as a result of this, would be able to afford newer, safer cars, for the new standards would put less financial stress on auto manufacturers, creating a win-win situation.

Obama-era regulations that are unnecessarily strict drivers’ lives should be repealed imminently to allow for the sake of the American economy and everyday Americans.

The Trump administration’s proposal would allow for a more competitive American economy and affordable new cars for average Americans.

Con

Automobile emissions have negatively taken a toll on our society. Emissions from automobiles cause many global problems. Environmental issues such as global warming are directly caused by auto emissions.

As of this moment, 19 states in the United States have promised to fight against a Trump administration proposal to weaken fuel efficiency standards for automobiles. These 19 states are determined to fight against a cause that will destroy our environment for future generations. Our environment will be easily demolished without any restrictions on the number of emissions caused by automobiles.

According to LA Times, 253 million cars hit the road in the United States every day, causing enormous amounts of air pollution. The polluted air in urban areas accumulates much faster, causing a lack of fresh air in these metropolitan areas.

This may cause many inhabitants of urban areas to develop diseases, such as heart disease and lung cancer, and have a lack of sanitation.

The rolling back of auto emission standards also causes states such as California and Connecticut to lose their ability to set their own emission standards, further adding to the amount of air congestion. California is known to have the most auto emissions on a daily basis, and the air pollution problem will certainly not be mitigated after the rollback.

As auto emission standards are weakened, citizens will see cars with lowered prices. However, as a long-term view, the damages caused by the rollbacks on standards will cost citizens an even larger, ultimately unpayable price.

Citizens will experience a dramatic rise in the amount of medically-related effects. Many of our environmental resources will be destroyed and the cost of living may become a much more expensive one.

It may seem like as of right now that humans are benefitting from the rollback, but the beneficial component will not last long. Humans will be creating an unsolvable problem for themselves in the future.

Global warming will increase at a much higher rate without the limitation of automobile emissions. The United States, a country that produces 65 percent of all automobiles, could certainly contribute to a greener environment by reinforcing the importance of emission standards.

The effects of global warming are too severe to ignore, as global warming is one of a handful of problems that affects humans and other living things at a global level.

Rolling back on auto emission standards may seem like a great idea for car enthusiasts, manufacturers, and companies, but the future cost will affect  most, if not everyone on our planet.