New US standards will improve fuel efficiency for trucks and cut pollution

The Obama administration announced the long-expected rules one day after Pope Francis issued a call for the world to take action to slow climate change

The Obama administration is issuing new rules intended to improve fuel efficiency for medium and heavy-duty trucks and cut pollution blamed for global warming.

The proposed standards are expected to lower carbon dioxide emissions by about 1bn metric tons, cut fuel costs by about $170bn and reduce oil consumption by up to 1.8bn barrels over the lifetime of vehicles sold under the rule.