State Of California -- Once The Golden Land -- Sues Global Carmakers Over Global Warming

"California filed a global warming lawsuit on Wednesday against Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and three other automakers, charging that greenhouse gases from their vehicles have cost the state millions of dollars.

State Attorney General Bill Lockyer said the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Northern California was the first of its kind to seek to hold manufacturers liable for the damages caused by their vehicles' emissions.

The lawsuit also names Chrysler Motors Corp., the U.S. arm of Germany's DaimlerChrysler AG, and the North American units of Japan's Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd..

The lawsuit charges that vehicle emissions have contributed significantly to global warming and harmed the resources, infrastructure and environmental health of the most populous state in the United States.

Ford deferred comment to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry group which could not immediately be reached. The other automakers had no immediate comment.

Lockyer, a Democrat, said the complaint states that under federal and state common law the automakers have created a public nuisance by producing ``millions of vehicles that collectively emitt tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks. Enforcement of those rules is being delayed by litigation from automakers."

Reuters "California Sues Carmakers Over Global Warming" New York Times September 20, 2006

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/us/news-environment-autos.html?hp&ex=1158811200&en=b219786895b9e138&ei=5094&
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Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers















California greenhouse-gas generators.

Photo credit: The Weeden Foundation. www.weedenfdn.org. With thanks.