CRI听力:Trump administration looking to reverse rules on vehicle emissions

In the US - the Trump administration is looking to reverse rules which cut back on greenhouse gas emissions. The rolling back of vehicle exhaust standards, set by the Obama administration, puts the government on a legal collision course with the state of California.

Even before he was president - Donald Trump made his feelings on climate change known. It's angered scientists and environmentalists around the world - and his government's latest move won't do much to placate them, rolling back vehicle emission standards that were designed by Obama's government - with the aim of cutting oil consumption and making the US more environmentally friendly.

"What was done in 2012, as we evaluate it now, is not appropriate going forward."

Scott Pruitt, is the administrator of the environmental protection agency…. and announced that the EPA would review the standards set by the last government.

"The importance of auto manufacturing in this country -- with respect to the progress we've made we've led the world in reduction of GHG. Through technology and innovation and the auto sector has been the leader of that through better design and better technology."

But the announcement to reverse vehicle emissions policies puts the US federal government on a collision course with California. Almost 15 million cars are registered here. And the state says it will fight to retain the current standards... legally, if necessary. Mike Gatto is a state commissioner and says California has been the leader in pushing for greener standards.

"I don't think clean air is a Democratic or Republican issue or a liberal or conservative issue, I think clean air is just about being able to tell your child that he or she can go outside and play and not worry about their lungs getting hurt. California has a tremendous car culture, we believe driving is a birthright. With the high number of miles the average Californian drives it's very important those miles are not that polluting. People know California as the 6th or 7th biggest economy in the world, we represent over one tenth of the US so we carry some heft. And what we do here in California matters profoundly not just for the US but the rest of the world."

But any fight will not be easy. It could split the US into two separate markets - with weaker rules in some states than others… and causing yet more divides in Donald Trump's America.