Barack Obama made his opening move in the greening of America’s economy last week, using his presidential authority to press for tougher emissions controls on half of the country’s cars.
In signing a pair of executive orders, Obama delivered his strongest repudiation to date of the policies of George W Bush, inviting environmentalists to the White House to announce that America would play a global leadership role on climate change.
In a further sign of Obama’s commitment to a Green agenda, the state department named Todd Stern, a former Bill Clinton administration official who played a key role in the Kyoto negotiations, as its envoy on climate change.
As a first step, Obama ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider its refusal to allow California and more than a dozen other states to impose stricter controls on emissions from new cars and trucks.
He followed up by raising fuel efficiency standards on all cars and light trucks rolling off the assembly line from 2011 onwards.
“Instead of serving as a partner, Washington stood in the way,” Obama said in a pointed rebuke of the Bush policies.
“The days of Washington dragging its heels are over. My administration will not deny the facts. It will be guided by them,” he said.
Private cars are thought to account for about a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions in America.
Democratic leaders in Congress and Greens saw the measures as a first step by Obama in redeeming his campaign promises on the environment, despite the economic recession.
Obama also ordered the transportation department to compel the car industry to make more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. The order would require all new vehicles rolling off the assembly line in 2011 to achieve at least 35 miles per gallon. —