Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: States Seek Stricter Car Emissions Standards, 05/29/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june07/emissions_5-29.html

Initiating Questions:

1. What kinds of standards must cars meet?

2. What are the major sources of greenhouse gases?

3. What is global warming?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. What is California proposing to regulate? Why?

Now, California is seeking to be the first state to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.

Carbon dioxide, a major byproduct of gasoline combustion, is the most significant of the manmade greenhouse gases, so called because they trap heat when released into the atmosphere. Transportation accounts for about one-third of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.

California has argued that, because greenhouse gases lead to global warming, the release of carbon dioxide from cars should be limited to protect the health of its residents.

2. What are the goals of the 2002 California emissions law?

At issue for California is a 2002 law which requires carmakers to cut automobile greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent starting by 2008, with a goal of reducing total greenhouse gas production by 30 percent by 2016.

3. Why does California have to negotiate with the federal government to implement this law?

But now that California has put forth its law, it must negotiate a deal with the federal government to implement it. Under the federal Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency has the sole authority to make air pollution rules. But the same act also allows states like California to create their own rules with an EPA-approved waiver.

For years, the EPA has resisted regulating greenhouse gases because the gases don't pollute the air.

4. What role has the U.S. Supreme Court play in this situation?

But the prospect of California's waiver improved in April when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the favor of 12 states that sued the EPA over greenhouse gas emissions.

The high court said that heat-trapping greenhouse gases can be considered "air pollutants" under the Clean Air Act and that the EPA violated the act by not regulating them.

5. What group is the major critic of the proposed legislation? Why are they opposed?

The car industry -- the major critic -- believes that the California standards could drive up new car prices, reduce safety and cost jobs.

Douglas said carmakers are focusing efforts on vehicles powered by gas-electric hybrid engines and ethanol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Washington Post reported.

In the past, the EPA has sided with the car industry, maintaining that the tailpipe is the wrong place to target emissions and instead suggesting that greenhouse gas emissions should be limited by fuel economy standards, which are outside of its control because they are set by the Department of Transportation.

Though fuel efficiency rules for light trucks were changed last year, car efficiency standards were last set at 27.5 miles -- in 1990.

6. When has the government said it will make a decision? How has California responded?

Following an executive order signed earlier in May, the White House has set a 2008 deadline for determining how to deal with the threat posed by automobile greenhouse gas emissions.

California's Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said his state isn't willing to wait that long. If the EPA doesn't act by October, he's threatened to sue the federal government. Again following California's lead, 11 other states have also threatened to sue, the New York Times reported.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What do you think is the right decision in this case? Should the EPA grant a waiver to California to regulate greenhouse gas emissions? Why or why not? How do the rights of states compare with the rights of the federal government in this case?

2. As a class, create your own set of rules for limiting greenhouse gas emissions in your state? Where would you start? What would be part of the agreement? What sources of pollution would you target first?

3. What has your city or community done to limit greenhouse gas emissions? Are there other things your community could do? If so, draw up a plan to present to community leaders. What might be the best way to get more people involved in your plan?

4. Do you think environmental issues get as much attention as they should? Why or why not?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.