Within the first week of his new presidency, Barack Obama confirmed his commitment to the environmental cause that was virtually ignored by the administration of the past eight years.
During a news conference that took place on Monday, Obama directly urged that the Environmental Protection Agency deliberate California's pending application for permission under the Clean Air Act to set its own laws regarding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions of automobiles in the state, particularly to enact stricter standards than the national ones.
This proposal had previously been rejected by the Bush administration. This action not only signifies Obama's immediate intentions to uphold campaign promises, contrasting the unfulfilled environmental pledges of the Bush campaign, but also makes clear his sharp deviation from Bush administration policies, especially necessary in the environmental field.
Once California's application is passed, 13 other states, including Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, are expected to be granted the same or similar rights. Mary Nichols, the head of California's Air Resources Board said, "We're delighted that the president is acting so quickly to reverse one of the worst decisions by the Bush administration and to get the EPA back on track."
Before Obama revealed his decision, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had written to Obama urging him to reconsider the decision made by Bush, proving this an issue surpassing party lines. Bush had rejected the proposal on grounds that California had no "compelling" reasons to limit greenhouse gases. California has a long history of being granted such waivers, especially to restrict air pollution, and much frustration followed the Bush denial. Manager of climate strategy at the Center for American Progress Daniel Weiss said, "President Obama has done more in one week to reduce oil dependence and global warming than George Bush did in eight years."
California's proposal involves a regulation mandating the average automobile mileage to reach 35 mpg (up from the current average of 27 mpg), by 2016, four years before the national goal.
Obama has actually previously mentioned, however, his ultimate goal of raising this average to an ambitious 40 mpg. Not surprisingly, the automobile industries have strongly opposed these suggestions.
In addition to his actions regarding California, Obama is to direct the Transportation Department to finalize standards regulating fuel efficiency in compliance with a 2007 law that the Bush administration decided not to enact.
In order to make a quick transition, the president will employ temporary regulations by March, so that automakers will have enough time to prepare for cars to comply with new standards beginning with those sold in 2011.
Obama's first 100 days will largely determine how the population views him as a leader, and how he stands up to his overwhelming expectations. In order to prove substance behind a campaign centered on a platform of change, Obama must quickly prove how different his presidency will be than the one preceding him, and this difference must go further than mere party agendas.
With much pressure from the dissatisfied, environmentally concerned sector of the population, it was necessary Obama include not promises, but policy, in these telling first few months.
That he began with direct reversal of a Bush decision gives the appropriate first impression regarding his guaranteed change. Further, that he made the decision one of his first as president supports his assertion of where the climate and environment place on his political agenda.
While it seems the president is succeeding thus far in first impressions, as far as environmental policy goes, he has a long journey ahead of him, involving reparations for the past eight years of inactivity.
He will need strong support in Congress and state and local governments, and his battle against big businesses including automakers and the oil industry will necessitate clear, exacting goals and much perseverance.
After an advantageous first move, the environmental movement waits to determine how his next steps will compare in the coming months.