President Obama announced sweeping clean energy and global warming directives on the morning of January 26th, winning loud applause from Environment California and ushering in a new era of environmental progress in D.C.
The centerpiece of the announcement was a directive to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider a petition by California for the right to move forward on greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and trucks. The directive marked a sharp break in the policies of former president George Bush under which the U.S. EPA had denied California and 14 other states including Washington, DC, the freedom to issue clean car standards stronger than the federal government’s. While the U.S. EPA still has to officially grant the waiver, a reexamination of the petition based on science will almost assuredly result in a positive outcome for the states.
How You Can Help
Until April 6, the EPA is accepting public comments on this
critical issue. Join thousands of other Californians in telling the EPA
we want cleaner cars now:
Sign the letter by filling in the form on this page. We will not share your information with anyone else.
Summary
It’s no secret that the millions of cars and trucks clogging California’s roads and
highways are the 800-pound gorilla of global warming and smog pollution.
Automobiles spew more carbon dioxide than any other source of pollution in
the Golden State—we rely on petroleum for 96
percent of all vehicle fuel. Automobiles are a leading source of soot and
smog-forming pollutants that contribute to over 5,000 deaths in California each year.
Fortunately, with the right policies, California
can cut global warming pollution, achieve cleaner air and be a leader in
developing clean technologies.
