Judge rejects automaker suit over California emissions limits
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) — A California court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by car-makers demanding state authorities be barred from setting tough new standards aimed at slashing greenhouse gas emissions.
In a written ruling, US District Court judge Anthony Ishii said California should be allowed to introduce its new limits from 2009, rejecting the arguments of automakers who had claimed the standards were unworkable.
The court decision is a victory for California, which has been aggressively pursuing the right to impose tougher limits on emissions from exhaust pipes as it attempts to slash greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020.
Under US law, California needs to be granted a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before it is allowed to set its new standards, however.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown and 14 other states in November announced plans to sue the EPA in order to force the body to make a ruling on the issue. The EPA has promised to reveal its decision by the end of 2007.
Analysts say the EPA and the administration of President George W. Bush have dragged their feet over California's demands because of fears of the effect it may have on the struggling US auto industry.
Brown meanwhile welcomed Wednesday's court ruling.
"This is the fourth major legal victory for California and a stinging rejection of the automobile industry's legal challenge to greenhouse gas emissions standards," Brown said in a statement.
"This court ruling leaves the Bush administration as the last remaining roadblock to California's regulation of tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions."
California passed legislation in 2002 requiring automakers to reduce vehicle emissions 30 percent by 2016. As many as 16 other US states have reportedly indicated they will adopt California's emissions levels.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger described Wednesday's ruling as "another important victory in the fight against global warming."
"Once again, the courts have determined that states, and the federal EPA, can and should regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks and buses," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
"California and other states will prevail in our goal to take aggressive action on climate change."
