Two German automakers have been targeted by an antitrust probe for making a deal to meet tougher emissions standards. Critics have called the probe a "nakedly political use of Justice Department resources."
Image: picture alliance/dpa/F. Gentsch
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The US Justice Department on Friday opened an antitrust probe into German automakers Volkswagen and BMW, along with Ford and Honda, over an agreement with the state of California.
Under the deal, the automakers said they would limit tailpipe emissions by 2023 beyond loose recommendations put forward by the White House.
"Those commitments may result in legal consequences given the limits placed in Federal law on California's authority," said a letter co-signed by the general counsels for the US Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency.
"We recognize California's disagreements with the Federal government's policy proposals in this area, but those policy disagreements cannot justify (California's) pursuit of a regulatory approach that would violate Federal law."
Critics believe the probe is politicalImage: picture alliance/AP Photo/P. Semansky
Critics cry foul
Critics have called the probe political, saying it could impede attempts to enact progressive policies to tackle climate change.
The probe "is an appalling, nakedly political, arguably corrupt use of Justice Department resources," said Sean Hecht, who co-heads the Emmett Institute of Climate Change and the Environment at the University of California, Los Angeles.
"The Trump administration has become unhinged as a result of automakers' rational decision to retain emission standards that they have already planned to meet, rather than back regulatory rollbacks that harm them," Hecht said in a tweet.
California's new policy requires new vehicles to meet fuel efficiency standards of at least 50 miles per gallon (4.7 liters per 100 kilometers). Currently, federal law requires automakers to meet a minimum of 37 miles per gallon by 2026.
California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened legal action if the Trump administration attempted to push through "a deal that automakers don't even want."
The automakers named in the investigation have said they plan to respond appropriately and comply with authorities, according to media reports.
What too much traffic does to our environment — and to us
Traffic jams are bad for the environment, the economy and our health. Here are the worst consequences due to traffic congestion — and the places where people suffer the most.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Y. Kadobnov
Testing your patience
Getting into a traffic jam is every driver's nightmare. Endless minutes (or worse: hours) in which nothing's moving forward can turn what should be a short car-ride into a seemingly never-ending odyssey. But congested streets aren't just annoying for commuters — they have far-reaching consequences.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. März
Higher emissions
Turn off your engine when you get into a traffic jam! You'll save fuel after 20 seconds of standing still already. Letting your engine run while your car's idling burns one liter of fuel an hour, according to Germany's technical inspection agency TÜV Süd. A higher fuel consumption rate means that more CO2 is blasted into the atmosphere, which we should avoid if we want to fight global warming.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/I. Fassbender
Germany's congestion capital
Germany saw roughly 745,000 traffic jams in 2018, according to German automobile club ADAC. That's a three-percent increase compared to 2017. According to GPS-maker TOMTOM's last survey, Cologne's streets were the most congested (as shown above). On average, travel time increased by more than a third because of congestion, compared to free flowing traffic.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Vennenbernd
Traffic breakdown in L.A. and Moscow
GPS-maker INRIX uses different calculations and has identified Munich as Germany's traffic jam capital. Drivers there were stuck in congestion for an average of 51 hours a year. That's nothing compared to the world leaders: The world capital of traffic jams is Los Angeles, where drivers were stuck in traffic for 102 hours a year, followed by Moscow (pictured here) and New York with 91 hours each.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Y. Kadobnov
Endangering your health
People who are stuck in traffic frequently have to deal with serious health problems. When traffic isn't flowing as it should, your body releases stress hormones. Your immune system is weakened and your blood pressure rises. People who are frequently stuck in traffic jams, like commuters, are even likely to develop burnout syndrome.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Cirou
Billions in economic losses
According to INRIX, the costs caused by traffic jams in Germany amounted to 80 billion euros in 2017. Goods don't reach their intended recipients on time and more fuel is burned. Both companies and private drivers suffer financially. Traffic jams "threaten economic growth and stunt quality of life," INRIX head economist Graham Cookson said.
Image: picture-alliance/Zumapress/G. Falvey
Ride-sharing apps made things worse
For a while hopes were high that ride-sharing services like Uber would bring down traffic. If people could easily get a ride, maybe they'd leave their own cars in the garage more often! But traffic researcher Bruce Schaller found out that the opposite was true in US cities. People took Uber instead of the subway or their bikes, while car owners kept driving their own vehicles.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/Imaginechina/Da Qing
Traffic just one contributor to air pollution
Afghanistan's capital Kabul is also dealing with congested streets. But that's not the only factor contributing to dangerous air pollution. In winter residents have taken to burning coal, car tires and trash to generate heat. Add to that diesel generators and many, many cars and you get smog that Afghanistan's National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) calls "deadly."
