California Lawsuit Leads Path to Fighting Global Warming

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown will announce today plans to sue the Bush administration’s Environmental Protection Agency for failing to act on needed waivers to allow the state to begin implementing a major program to fight global warming. California legislation requiring automakers to reduce harmful tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases has been languishing due to EPA’s refusal to waive federal legal impediments and allow California to begin making strides in combating global warming.

The following statement is from Earthjustice attorney Paul Cort regarding today’s announcement:

“We applaud California on its continued leadership in tackling the issue of global warming. The state legislature, the Governor and the Attorney General recognize global warming is a problem that will not simply disappear without major changes in the way our cars, power plants, and other pollution sources operate.

“The state’s tougher emission standards for cars and trucks will lead the way for the rest of the country. Automakers can no longer drag their feet when it comes to fighting global warming. Cars and trucks are major greenhouse gas emitters, and requiring manufacturers to build cleaner cars is good for California, good for the country, and good for the planet.

“Our state has always been a leader in environmental protection and it’s time the Bush administration recognizes that lip service and voluntary initiatives on global warming are not going to get us out of this mess. We need strong leadership and a plan for national greenhouse gas emission reductions from cars and trucks. California is taking the first step.”