Despite the pressure put by the automobile construction companies, the US Senate approved on Thursday a law draft aiming at the fuel consumption decrease by 40% in the following ten years.

This is the most important document voted by the US Senate on this theme. The purpose is to significantly reduce pollution and also decrease the US dependence on Middle East oil, the AFP news agency comments.

According to the senators who supported the draft, the project leads to a 2 - 2.5 million barrels of oil saving every day and 18% less carbon dioxide emissions.

California adopted five years ago a law forcing car producers decrease the carbon dioxide emissions some 30% before 2016.

The US are responsible for 25% of the gas causing the greenhouse effect worldwide, but still refuse to abide the Kyoto protocol. President George W. Bush continues to claim that signing the treaty would jeopardize the US economy.