GOVERNMENTS: MAKE A GASOLINE TRANSITION PLAN!
To meet today’s economic, political and climate crises, we must sharply reduce demand for gasoline. Coltura outlined its strategy for rapidly and equitably reducing gasoline consumption in an article, “Towards a National Strategy to Cut Gasoline Use,” published last month in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs.
Here’s a summary of our three-pronged approach:
- Set Goals. Set gasoline and emission reduction goals for light duty vehicles (passenger cars and light trucks). Aim for a 50% cut in gasoline use by 2030, a target consistent with UN and Biden Administration climate goals.
- Use Data to Guide Policy and Investment. An understanding of gasoline data must guide policy and investment in reducing emissions from light duty vehicles. A deep dive into data led Coltura to this conclusion: We must design EV incentives and other policies to prioritize the switch to EVs for those who currently use the most gasoline, particularly for people in lower income brackets. Doing so will provide financial relief to those most burdened by gasoline costs, and push us towards our climate goals faster. This maximizes both the climate and equity impacts of EV incentives.
- Require Accountability. We must hold governments and organizations accountable for meeting specific gasoline reduction goals using accurate, timely, and detailed data on gasoline use.
With clear goals, data-driven policymaking, and accountability, we will be able to cut gasoline use more quickly, while becoming a more equitable, more prosperous, and healthier nation.
Read Coltura’s Paper in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
