The United States emits about 25 percent of the total global greenhouse gases.

Global mean surface temperatures have increased 0.74°C over the past 100 years. Eleven of the last 12 years (1995-2006) are among the warmest years recorded since 1850. The snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased. Globally, sea level has risen 4-10 inches over the past century.

Sea level is likely to rise two feet along most of the U.S. coast.

The new single national standard will create a car and light truck fleet in the U.S. that is almost 40 percent cleaner and more fuel-efficient by 2016 than it is today,

"While the United States makes up less than 5 percent of the world's population, we create roughly a quarter of the world's demand for oil,"

By 2016, this would raise cars up to 39 miles per gallon and light trucks to 30 miles per gallon.