Cleaner Air, Courtesy of California

The US may make headway on increasing automotive efficiency without federal support. Automakers General Motors and DaimlerChrysler dropped a lawsuit against a California rule requiring them to produce millions of cleaner, more efficient "hybrid" cars that operate on a combination of gas and electricity. At a time when Americans are continuing their love affair with the SUV and the federal government has backtracked on environmental issues – including pulling out of the Kyoto agreement on global warming – this settlement may catalyze new standards for automotive efficiency nationwide. Indeed, according to this opinion piece in The New York Times, "other states, like New York, often follow California's lead in these matters." Making hybrid cars available across the US would not only mean cleaner air, but also progress on combating global warming and reducing the nation's dependency on foreign oil. – YaleGlobal