California Wants 20% cut in transport pollution

California announced a plan yesterday to launch a reduction in carbon pollution impacts by 20% before the year 2020, by writing a new measure into legislature that attacks the carbon emitted by fuel used in transportation.

This is the first state in America to make the leap to reduce greenhouse emissions as of yet, which could inspire the new United States President, Barrack Osama, to institute a national standard when it comes to public and private transportation.

Movie star and current California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, first suggested the idea in 2007 to the air resources board of California.

Critics argue that this could affect the corn-based producers of ethanol, prompting a study by the Air Resources board on how ethanol affects land value and forests in the state.

Concern has been voiced that increasing ethanol decreases how much land can be used for crops of food substances, which could lead to further forest destruction for land cultivation, thus decreasing the amount of trees that previously filtered carbon in the air naturally.

The oil industry has also voiced concern that before fuel is restricted, careful research should be conducted, as it reduced dependency and availability could lead to higher overall costs to citizens and consumers who are already struggling in a rough economic time period.

The United States is currently in a recession that has had global impacts across the world.

Biofuel is being heavily studied and suggested by the Air Resources Board as a practical way to meet fuel demands, which will lead to the construction of at least 25 biofuel factories, creating an additional 3,000 jobs for residents of the state.

Biofuel is energy that is derived from technology that utilises weeds, waste products, and algae.

Additionally, the California Air Resources Board emphasises the need to investigate and move towards purchasing hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuelling areas.

Mary Nichols, the Board chair, praised the new low-carbon standard in fuel as a small but influential step from oil dependency towards a brighter future with less greenhouse emissions.