In an effort to keep Californians cool and indirectly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars, the state Air Resources Board (CARB) has mandated that vehicle windows must block out more sunlight.

The regulation, effective beginning 2012, applies to all new vehicles sold in California requiring vehicle windows to block 33 percent more sunlight from entering the car than currently applied shields. Blocking more light should prevent cranking up the car's air conditioning to stay cool. Less work the car has to do equates to less fossil fuel burned and decreased greenhouse gas emissions.

"This is a common-sense and cost-effective measure that will help cool the cars we drive and fight global warming. It represents the kind of innovative thinking we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our vehicles and steer our economy toward a low-carbon future," said Mary D. Nichols, CARB Chairman.

According to CARB research, increased sunlight shielding will prevent 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from making its way into the air we breathe, or rather, like nixing 14,000 cars from driving throughout the state.

Now, eliminating the emissions of 14, 000 vehicles is not a bad deal at all, in fact, when it comes to passing legislation that controls emissions, every little bit counts, because as we have seen, the federal government is so slow to do so that states are taking matters into their own hands. And as is the precedent, auto manufacturers will likely make changes to their entire fleets to accommodate California because it is more cost effective, so the requirement will impact vehicles sold across the country.

However, will this standard really dent the state's climate change contribution? Wouldn't even further mandating that cars use less fossil fuel per mile or run off of biofuel make more progress and directly address climate change? While it is difficult to say if this new regulation will make a tangible difference in climate change, it is nonetheless important as it shits the paradigm from do nothing to do something. Hopefully, after proper implementation and follow up research, the regulation will inspire similar regulations across all vehicles sold in America, even though that may take another few years.