おはようございます。
カリフォルニア州は全米で環境意識の高い州の１つです。全米で初めてレジ袋禁止条例を制定したのも加州のサンフランシスコです。加州のような環境先進州に一定の裁量権を与えることで、全米の環境規制を一気に世界最高水準まで引き上げる下地ができます。
ただ加州が排ガス規制の導入を決めた07年とは状況が全く違います。加州は全米で金融・住宅危機の影響を最も受けている州の１つです。教師の就労時間を削減しなけらばならないほど財政的に追い詰められています。今後の動向を注意深く見守っていく必要がありそうですね。
米排ガス規制、オバマ大統領が州独自の規制強化を認める方針を示す 前政権の環境政策を大きく転換
Obama Moves to Let States Set Own Rules on Emissions (WSJ.com)
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to consider allowing California to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from automobiles, a policy that could spur the development of new vehicles.
"The federal government must work with, not against, states to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions," Mr. Obama said at a press conference filled with environmental activists and members of his cabinet. He ordered the EPA to "immediately review" a 2007 decision to deny California the waiver it needs to go forward.
The action marks a sharp reversal from the administration of President George W. Bush, which concluded that California wasn't entitled to its own standards as global warming wasn't unique to the state. In putting the U.S. on a different course, Mr. Obama was signaling a broader commitment to reshaping U.S. energy habits.
Environmental Protection Agency: EPA、環境保護局
waiver: 免責
unique: 独自の
12月の米中古住宅販売、前月比6.5％増 中央価格は大恐慌以来の大幅な落ち込みになった可能性、アナリスト「トレンドは依然ネガティブ」
U.S. Existing Home Sales Rise on Record Price Slump (Bloomberg.com)
Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Sales of previously owned homes in the U.S. unexpectedly rose from a record low, propelled by the biggest slump in prices since the Great Depression as foreclosures surged.
Purchases rose 6.5 percent to an annual rate of 4.74 million from 4.45 million in November that was less than previously estimated, the National Association of Realtors said today in Washington. The median price dropped 15 percent from a year ago, the biggest decline since records began in 1968 and probably the biggest in seven decades, according to the group.
“You have to put it in the context of an even steeper decline for the previous month,” said David Sloan, a senior economist at 4Cast Inc. in New York, who had the highest projection in the Bloomberg News survey. “The net trend is still negative. It does seem that some cheap prices are attracting buyers. I don’t think it’s a clear sign of a revival in the housing market. The housing market is very weak.”
Sales of previously owned homes: 中古住宅販売件数
National Association of Realtors: NAR、全米不動産協会
ノルウェー政府、28.9億ドル景気刺激策を発表 潤沢な政府系ファンドの存在が他の欧州諸国との違い
Norway Unveils $2.89 Billion Stimulus Package (WSJ.com)
OSLO -- Norway's government Monday announced a 20 billion kroner ($2.89 billion) stimulus package in a move aimed at boosting growth and employment and mitigating the effects of the international financial crisis.
The 20 billion kroner plan comprises 16.75 billion kroner in increased government spending and 3.25 billion kroner in tax relief for the business sector.
Unlike other European countries, which have to take on more debt to fund increased government spending, Norway can tap its oil revenue. The country puts surplus oil income into a sovereign wealth fund called the Government Pension Fund-Global, currently valued at about $300 billion. The government allows itself to spend up to 4% of the fund each year to plug its budget deficit.
to mitigate: ～を和らげる
tax relief: 減税
sovereign wealth fund: SWF、政府系投資ファンド
アイスランド、金融危機で連立崩壊 先月のベルギー内閣総辞職に続く政権崩壊
Iceland's Coalition Government Collapses (WSJ.com)
Iceland's government collapsed Monday, days after its prime minister called for early elections amid popular anger over a financial crisis that has gutted a once-flourishing economy.
Prime Minister Geir Haarde announced Monday that he and his cabinet would resign immediately. The move came after his Independence Party failed to come to terms with the Social Democrats, its main partner in Iceland's coalition government. Mr. Haarde was due Monday afternoon to present his resignation to Iceland's president.
Iceland becomes the second European nation to lose its government in the global crisis -- Belgium's resigned last month after a scandal involving aid to a fallen bank. It is perhaps the world's hardest hit: Last fall, three big banks -- virtually the entire banking system -- collapsed, and the island's currency went into freefall.
cabinet: 閣僚
coalition government: 連立政権
resignation: 辞表
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良い一日を(o^-')b