With President Barack Obama only one day deep into his new job, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wasted no time in appealing to the new president to reconsider the Golden State’s request for a Clean Air Act waiver.

In a letter sent to the president on Wednesday, the governor asked Mr. Obama to direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the state’s request for a Clean Air Act waiver, which would allow California and other states the right to set their own standards for carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles.

“For four years, California and a growing number of farsighted states have sought to enforce a common-sense policy to reduce global-warming pollution from passenger vehicles,” Mr. Schwarzenegger wrote. “Your administration has a unique opportunity to both support the pioneering leadership of these states and move America toward global leadership on addressing climate change.”

Previously, California proposed rules that would have required auto makers to reduce emissions by 30 percent in all new cars and light trucks by 2016—limits significantly stricter than those set by the federal government. But the Golden State, along with 16 other states, had their waiver requests rejected in December 2007 and their plans for stricter emissions rules put on hold.

Now, with Obama in the White House, Mr. Schwarzenegger hopes the door has been opened for him to push through regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

If the waiver is granted, California’s climate change plan should become even more influential as a nationwide model for cutting vehicle emissions.