ClimateYou

The lead editorial from the New York Times on January 27, 2009 lauds President Obama for repudiating the Bush administration’s passive approach to climate change.  Calling the decision one “of great significance,” the Times praised Mr. Obama for his commitment to countering the rise in greenhouse gases, and for his willingness to use the regulatory levers of the government to fight global warming.  While hailing Mr. Obama’s imposition of regulations, the Times notes that he still must make major investments in renewable technologies and, eventually, unlock private investment by putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, the Times crows, “this is a wonderful start.”

As reported in this article from the New York Times, on Monday, January 26, 2009, President Obama directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider California’s request for a waiver to restrict greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks more stringently than the limits specified by Federal laws. The move represented a break with the Bush administration’s environmental policy, which several times disallowed the waiver.  Obama also directed the Transportation Department to write rules to implement a 2007 law mandating a 40% gain in gas mileage for autos an light trucks by 2020.  The 2007 bill had no regulation to enforce it.