Today, President Obama announced his commitment to make America the leader in the fight against global warming. His speech this morning highlighted his efforts to push for higher fuel-efficiency standards and a reduction in tail-pipe emissions. Two executive orders he passed down today ordered the Transportation Department to set a guideline for the auto industry to follow in meeting the fuel-efficiency standards of 35 miles-per-gallon by 2020 and for the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider California’s proposal to further regulate auto emissions beyond that which is required by the federal government. The reconsideration of this proposal by the EPA is a reversal of the Bush administration’s decision which denied California that same right. On this topic, President Obama stated “the federal government must work with, not against, states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” He also mentioned the importance of creating a “Global Coalition” to take action and declared that it is America’s time to lead this effort, saying that this “moment of peril must be turned into one of progress.”