President Obama has unveiled new national emissions and mileage requirements for cars and light trucks. The rules aim to cut emissions by 30 percent and require passenger cars to average thirty-nine miles per gallon by 2016. On Tuesday, Obama noted the rules are the first to impose federal regulations on car emissions in the United States.

President Obama: “For the first time in history, we have set in motion a national policy aimed at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all new trucks and cars sold in the United States of America.”

The White House estimates the regulations would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 900 million metric tons over the lifetime of more efficient vehicles. Appearing with Obama at the White House, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger praised the new rules.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: “We are very happy that this has happened, because it means a reduction of one-third of greenhouse gases and one-third of oil consumption. As you have heard the President say, this is reducing oil consumption by 1.8 billion gallons of oil, so this is staggering. As he said, it’s an equivalent of taking 55 million cars off the road.”