May 19 2009
President Obama Sets Limit on Greenhouse-Gas Pollution
Awesome news today! US President Obama has set the limit on greenhouse-gas pollution from cars. Based on a standard that was proposed by the state of California, automakers have to manufacture cars that run on average 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. According to the news, the President has pushed the new legislation four years sooner than previously planned. That’s great. For the US to reverse its policy on car pollution from the Bush Administration, it is a step in the right direction:
Obama’s action is the “biggest single step to curb global warming,” Dan Becker, director of the environmental group Safe Climate Campaign, said in an interview.
It’s not the biggest step, but it’s a step, nevertheless. There is still more to be done. I hope the US continues to push forward to make positive changes in its policy to deal with climate change. According to the UN’s report “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” the transportation sector is the #2 contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The #1 culprit is the meat industry. The methane gas emits by cattle is far more efficient in trapping heat than carbon dioxide produced from cars, 72 times more potent over an average of 20 years. That’s huge!
There is still much to be done at the government level; but for each one of us, we help by reducing our meat consumption as much as we can. Go veg, try a vegan meal. There are more restaurants nowadays that offer a vegetarian or vegan menu. One great resource to check online for a healthy and environmentally sound diet anywhere in the world is www.happycow.net.
It’s awesome that there are more and more good news every day about governments taking action to curb climate change: the Philippines, the European Union, the city of Ghent in Belgium. We can do our part. Yes we can! 
