California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lower California's reliance on foreign oil.

Schwarzenegger, joined by U.S. Senator John McCain, called for a national Low Carbon Fuel Standard for transportation fuels.

"Last month I signed an Executive Order creating the world's first Low Carbon Fuel Standard so our vehicles will emit less carbon and bring a healthier future to our children and grandchildren," Schwarzenegger said in a statement e-mailed to Xinhua.

This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 13 million tons per year by 2020, which is like taking 3 million cars off the road, he said.

The Executive Order, signed by Schwarzenegger in January, established the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which will reduce the carbon intensity of California's passenger vehicle fuels by at least 10 percent by 2020.

"All of this is great for our environment, our economy and our taxpayers because the Low Carbon Fuel Standard will more than triple the size of our renewable fuels market in California and put more than 7 million alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles on our roads by 2020 without any new government spending," he said.

"It's also great for our national security because we will be less dependent on foreign oil and less vulnerable to price shocks and instability beyond our borders," he noted.

A healthy environment, a growing economy and strong national security are all reasons for a Low Carbon Fuel Standard for America," said the governor.

Last year, Governor Schwarzenegger signed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which establishes the governor's historic greenhouse gas emissions goals as California law.

The target - 1990 levels by 2020 - is unmatched in America and has established California as an international leader in efforts to solve the global climate crisis.

California's goals will also clear almost 150 million metric tons of emissions from the state's skies by 2020, the equivalent to taking more than 32 million passenger cars off the road for one year.

California relies on petroleum-based fuels for 96 percent of its transportation needs while America relies on petroleum for 97 percent.

Other countries are already adopting California's new standard, increasing the market and benefits. On Jan. 31, the European Union announced a new pollution standard for motor fuels that is virtually identical to Schwarzenegger's executive order.

The EU's new standard will cut emissions by 500 million metric tons of carbon by 2020, equivalent to the total combined emissions of Spain and Sweden today.

Source: Xinhua