Concerted US policy to improve fuel economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Today, President Obama is uniting federal and state governments, the auto industry, labor unions and the environmental community behind a program that will provide for the biggest leap in history to make automobiles more fuel efficient.

In announcing a new, more stringent approach to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas, the President remarked:

"Ending this dependence [on fossil fuels] will take time. It will take an incredible effort. It will take a historic investment in innovation. But, more than anything, it will take the willingness to look past our differences, to act in good faith, to refuse to continue the failures of the past, and to take on this challenge together for the benefit, not just of this generation, but of generations to come."

If you consider the coalition the President gathered to witness today's announcement, it seems clear he has secured the "willingness" he spoke of from disparate stakeholders.

The new regulations consolidate the varying policies of several different states as well as three different federal agencies--Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Transportation, and Environmental Protection Agency. This results in a clear and uniform national policy, ending the uncertainty and inconsistency automakers have previously faced.

The bottom line is clear: this program lessens our dependence on oil and is good for America and the planet. It will strengthen the country as a whole and serve as a meaningful down payment on our commitment to combat global warming.

Comments

[fpt editors]

"incredible effort" ... nice choice of words, although "not credible" would be more accurate. All the fossil-fuel savings will be consumed by growth. Better cars will lead to more cars. Instead of improving cars, invest in urban public transit. Oops... that would be a "gaffe". Oh well, this won't be published...

[Laura Dierenfield]

Congratulations on reaching this historic milestone. Please don't forget the power of active transportation reduce GHG's. We can't get there on hybrid and electric technology alone and the same problems of congestion, chronic disease, safety and water pollution still exist with motor vehicles. Investing in active transportation will help reach the goals the Obama Administration set yesterday. And bicycles in particular require no expensive R & D, and provide equitable, efficient (not fixed to a transit schedule) mobility to more people. With modest investments in infrastructure we can shift modes to oil free options. Please help accelerate active transportation investments as part of this commitment to lessen our dependence on oil and combat global warming. Thank you.

[Casey]

You list "the environmental community" with labor unions and the auto industry like it is just another special interest.

All humans are in a community which is sharing the environment. This is not a special interest.