Signal 2: Building the True vehicle emissions database

The Volkswagen emissions scandal of 2015 revealed the lengths to which large automakers go in order to cheat emissions tests. It has also shown that our greenhouse gases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), NO2, and particulate matter (PM2.5 & PM10) emissions rates severely underestimate vehicle emissions. These emissions rates are the basis of many analyses and policies on vehicle emissions and air quality standards.

The True Initiative aims to equip cities to take on air quality and GHG emissions by developing an easily understood rating system for vehicles, but also by creating a database of emissions based on direct samples of emissions rates from vehicles in use, outside of a test setting that can be fooled by “defeat devices”.

Vehicle emissions are a main driver of climate change, create smog and soot, and are linked to respiratory conditions, stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer asthma and other health impacts. Accurate data on vehicle emissions is critical to energy, public health, and climate action planning and to allow consumers to make informed decisions.

Cities must support the development of a real data set on vehicle emissions. We need accurate data in order to cut vehicle air pollution.