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Obama moves to curb car emissions Obama moves to curb car emissions
(20 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has announced tough targets for new fuel efficient vehicles in order to cut pollution and lower dependence on oil imports. US President Barack Obama has announced tough targets for new fuel-efficient vehicles in order to cut pollution and lower dependence on oil imports.
Describing the move as "historic", Mr Obama said the country's first-ever national standards would reduce vehicle emissions by about a third by 2016.Describing the move as "historic", Mr Obama said the country's first-ever national standards would reduce vehicle emissions by about a third by 2016.
The plan aims to replace overlapping rules on emissions and efficiency set by federal agencies and states.The plan aims to replace overlapping rules on emissions and efficiency set by federal agencies and states.
US carmakers and environmental groups have expressed support for the move.US carmakers and environmental groups have expressed support for the move.
See how new fuel effiency targets compareSee how new fuel effiency targets compare
Mr Obama said the move would provide clear rules for the industry.
Under the proposed standards, manufacturers must reach an average of 39 miles per gallon for passenger cars by 2016, and 30 miles per gallon for light lorries.Under the proposed standards, manufacturers must reach an average of 39 miles per gallon for passenger cars by 2016, and 30 miles per gallon for light lorries.
Mr Obama said the status quo was "no longer acceptable" and led to dependence on oil exporting countries and climate change.Mr Obama said the status quo was "no longer acceptable" and led to dependence on oil exporting countries and climate change.
The president also predicted that a series of lawsuits by car manufacturers over emissions would be dropped as a result of the proposed regulation. California had been pushing for stricter emissions standards
'More consistency' The new standards is expected to raise the price of new vehicles by about $1,300 (£839) per vehicle by 2016.
The BBC's Jonathan Beale, in Washington, says President Obama has made tackling climate change a priority. But the president said this would be offset by lower fuel cost within three years.
EMISSION CUTS PLAN A 30% reduction by 2016The cuts are equal to closing 190 coal-fired plants, or taking 177m cars off the roadPrice of cars may rise by $1,300 The Safe Climate Campaign, an environmental group, welcomed the plan saying it was "major signal" that the US was serious about curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
Until now it was only a few individual states, like California, that had been battling to cut greenhouse gas emissions, our correspondent says. Carmakers are also hailing a single nationwide standard, after years court battles to stop California and other states setting their own tough pollution controls.
The US car industry had also resisted change.
But, facing tougher times and having to rely on government aid, it is now backing the new national standards.
"GM and the auto industry benefit by having more consistency and certainty to guide our product plans," GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson said in a statement."GM and the auto industry benefit by having more consistency and certainty to guide our product plans," GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson said in a statement.
Mr Obama predicted that the lawsuits would be dropped as a result of the proposed regulation.
Savings
The president said: "As a result of this agreement we will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years."
EMISSION CUTS PLAN A 30% reduction by 2016The cuts are equal to closing 190 coal-fired plants, or taking 177m cars off the roadPrice of cars may rise by $1,300
He said this amounted to removing 177 million cars from the roads by 2016.
In that period, the savings in oil will amount to last year's combined US imports from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Libya and Nigeria, Mr Obama added.
The BBC's Jonathan Beale, in Washington, says President Obama has made tackling climate change a priority.
Mr Obama's plan would still need the approval of the Environmental Protection Agency and the transportation department.Mr Obama's plan would still need the approval of the Environmental Protection Agency and the transportation department.
The new measures would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 900 million metric tonnes, the equivalent of closing 190 coal-fired plants, officials said.
The increase in mileage is to be introduced gradually, and is expected to add $1,300 to the cost of a vehicle by the time it is fully implemented in 2016.
The measures would begin to take effect in 2012.
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