I am writing to oppose the rollback of fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, commonly known as the CAFE standards, which the Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to weaken. This rule change is a bad idea.

Since the industrial revolution, we have burnt so much fossil fuel that we have altered the composition of our entire atmosphere. This accumulation of exhaust over the past 200 years is causing local weather conditions to change all over the globe, and we have seen these changes: record-setting droughts, huge forest fires, increased flooding, massive and more frequent hurricanes and an incremental rise in ocean levels. Flooding and increased hillside collapses have occurred in Pittsburgh.

I realize there are many who do not believe that these effects are caused by people.

However, climate scientists are the Earth’s doctors, and there is consensus among them that the use of fossil fuels needs to be reduced. The CAFE standards are a good way to contribute to those reductions, because an increase in vehicle fuel-efficiency results in a reduction of exhaust per mile. Consumers save money when their cars go farther on a tank of gas, air quality is improved and the environment is helped.

Reducing fossil fuel use should not be a partisan issue. Fires, floods and hurricanes do not ask whether one is liberal or conservative. Reducing our use of fossil fuels is also a significant business opportunity. Please oppose the rollback of CAFE standards.

JON SUTTER
Mt. Lebanon

First Published: July 22, 2018, 4:00 a.m.