Schwarzenegger versus Bush in Californian battle of gas-guzzlers

Critics accused the White House of sabotaging a key part of the fight against global warming, and California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said he would sue the federal government to have the ruling overturned. The stand-off is part of a long-running ideological battle between President Bush and his advisers, who have delayed, denied or undermined efforts to regulate greenhouse gases ever since they abandoned the Kyoto protocol within the first few months of his administration, and a growing number of politicians who believe time is of the essence to reverse the effects of global warming.

Bill Richardson, who was energy secretary under President Clinton and now, as Governor of New Mexico, is one of the state leaders behind California's proposed new legislation, said the Bush administration was demonstrating "a complete lack of legal, moral and policy leadership on climate change and threatens to close the door on the single most aggressive and effective means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions".

The head of California's Air Resources Board, Mary Nichols, added: "This administration ignores the science and ignores the law to reach the politically convenient conclusion."

For several decades, states have needed a special waiver from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency to pass anti-pollution laws that go beyond the provisions laid out by Congress. California has obtained about 50 EPA waivers in the past.

It has been waiting for the go-ahead on new regulations on exhaust pipe emissions since 2005, seeing cleaner vehicle exhaust as a key part of its stated ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. Sixteen other states, representing half of the US population, have either drafted or passed legislation following California's lead.

Read More