The UAW rejects the suggestion that protecting the environment is bad for the economy
Former Rep. Dan Maffei’s (D-N.Y.) column, “Why Democrats Would be Wise to Compromise on CAFE Standards,” took the UAW’s position on CAFE standards completely out of context and frankly, got it flat out wrong. So, let me be clear, the UAW does not support gutting CAFE standards.
The UAW is committed to protecting the environment and preserving jobs. And we know that we can do this in a smart way. We reject the false claim that protecting the environment is bad for the economy. Well crafted regulations benefit both American workers and our environment.
In fact, the UAW was central to the CAFE agreement, which was carefully crafted to reduce emissions, increase efficiency, give manufacturers flexibility to meet stringency standards, and create jobs in vehicle production and advanced technology. We are proud of the role we played in reaching a consensus among a wide variety of stakeholders, including the Obama administration, state and federal regulators, the automobile industry, environmental advocates, elected officials and many others to significantly reduce greenhouse gases and raise the average fuel economy of passenger vehicles sold in the United States.
We all have a role to play in reducing the use of fossil fuels, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting our environment. The United States is now the only country in the world not part of the Paris Climate Accord that aims to fight global warming. But ignoring climate change will not eliminate the dangers it poses. We must act now to protect our future, and the future of our children and grandchildren, by creating regulations that strike a balance between achieving fuel standards while not adversely impacting working families and domestic U.S. manufacturing.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/405374-the-uaw-rejects-the-suggestion-that-protecting-the