President Barack Obama Monday signed new measures to spur development of fuel efficient cars and to wean America off foreign energy, in a first swipe at Bush administration climate policies.
The initiatives signalled the new president's first attempt to honor campaign promises to join the international fight against global warming and reduce US dependence on energy sources from restive regions of the world.
“America will not be held hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming planet,” Obama said in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
“We will not be put off from action because action is hard. Now is the time to make tough choices.
“Now is the time to meet the challenge of this crossroads of history, by choosing a future safer for our country, prosperous for our planet, and sustainable.
“Those are my priorities, and they're reflected in the executive orders I'm about to sign.”
Obama required the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider whether to grant California a waiver to regulate car exhaust emissions blamed for contributing to global warming.
Former president George W. Bush's administration had blocked efforts by California and a dozen other states to impose their own limits on carbon dioxide gas emissions.
Obama also ordered the Transportation Department to produce guidelines to ensure US vehicles reach average fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
