The Canadian government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper is reported to be on the verge of giving $200 million from a "green initiatives fund" to Ford and General Motors - to help those failing companies continue to build really big (and increasingly unpopular) cars and trucks.

Ford, which lost $8.7 billion in the second-quarter of this year as its truck-dominated fleet crashed into oily reality, is advertising its latest Ontario production facility as "green" because it features a "more fuel-efficient V8 engine." And Stephen Harper, in a pre-election vote-buying frenzy, is using taxpayers money to prop up this stupidity.

Honda Motor of Japan has launched the world’s first hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle intended for mass production.

Although it will make just 200 of its FCX Clarity vehicles over the next three years, Honda plans eventually to increase production, especially as hydrogen filling stations become more common.

And even the small initial run represents progress toward a clean-burning technology many have rejected as too exotic and too expensive to gain wide acceptance.

A federal judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by the State of California against auto manufacturers. The suit claimed damages against automakers for the environmental damage being caused by excessive greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. 

A ruling in Vermont today will force automakers to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent over the next 10 years.

Automakers, including Ford "it's easy to be green" Motors, the "Environmentologists" at  Honda and "look at our great hybrid" Toyota have been fighting mandatory state-level carbon emission standards for close to ten years, saying the effect on industry would be devastating.

"Environmentology" is Honda's buzzword for its commitment to the environment. To quote Honda's environment statement:

"Honda will pursue challenging goals for the conservation of the global environment. As a responsible member of society whose task lies in the preservation of the global environment..."

While Honda's word are commendable (and I am big fan of their hybrid line-up), their actions on the environment are much less so.