The wait is finally over! Back in 2002, California passed the first US bill to tackle the climate crisis by regulating tailpipe emissions, but for the last six years the Bush Administration (forever a friend to big polluters) had been blocking the implementation of California’s Tailpipe Emissions bill -despite even a Supreme Court decision noting that the EPA has the right to regulate the emissions. Under the Clean Air Act, California is allowed to impose stricter air quality  standards than national standards so long as the EPA granted it a waiver to do so. Unsurprisingly, the former EPA Director Stephen Johnson had been denying California its waiver without any scientific reason (actually, it was more a directive from the White House).

Fast forward to the Obama Administration and a new EPA Director, and things have dramatically changed:

The Environmental Protection Agency will announce today that it is granting California’s request to impose tough restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks — reversing the Bush administration’s position and opening the way for the state to take the lead on global-warming policy.

California developed the standards in 2004 but was barred from implementing them.

EPA officials say granting California the waiver from federal standards gives the state wide latitude to promulgate stricter rules, restoring a 40-year interpretation of the Clean Air Act.

“It preserves California’s role as a leader on clean air policy,” particularly on motor vehicles, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in an interview. “It feels good to know that we are able to move past — address — this issue, responding to the president’s call.”

President Obama had criticized the Bush EPA’s denial and, shortly after his inauguration, ordered the agency to revisit it.

This is a monumental step in the fight to stop the climate crisis. Add the fact that last week the House passed the most comprehensive bill to reduce greenhouse gases in US history, and it’s been a terrific last five days for the environment.