President Obama announces states allowed to set limits on car pollution

President Barack Obama announced today that he will allow states to set stricter limits on greenhouse gas pollution from cars.

Under the Bush administration, states were not allowed to enforce stricter limits on carbon emission than those the federal government requires under the Clean Air Act. President Obama's action reverses this stance, and will enable states to get an Environmental Protection Agency waiver to adopt stricter standards for tailpipe emissions.

At the White House this morning President Obama said, "The federal government must work with, not against, states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. California has shown bold and bipartisan leadership through its effort to 21st century standards. And over a dozen states have followed its lead."

These states include: Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, Vermont and Washington.

Other states, including Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, and Utah, are also considering stricter tailpipe emissions standards.

The president also directed the Department of Transportation to set stricter vehicle fuel efficiency standards for 2011 by March, giving automakers an 18 month period to impose them, and instructed the U.S. government in general to become more energy efficient.

"The days of Washington dragging its heels are over. My administration will not deny facts. We will be guided by them," President Obama said. He also added, "It will be the policy of my administration to reverse our dependence on foreign oil."

The President has taken some big steps forward today to save all of us from global warming pollution. So you might be thinking that people who care about climate change can relax. But nothing can be further from the truth. Bold actions like the President's are likely to cause a backlash. Here is one example: the Senior Editor of Fortune Magazine arguing in a column, also posted on CNN.com, that, "small cars won't sell." He argues that the President is not making the smart move when he takes steps to stem the climate crisis. We need to keep up cry for bold action on the climate crisis.

To watch President Obama's announcement yourself click here