California Greenhouse Gas Law Prevails in US Court
Date: 14-Dec-07
Country: US
A spokesman for the auto industry, which had argued that California's law is unconstitutional, said an appeal is uncertain.
"We're still reviewing the decision and a decision on whether or not to appeal hasn't been made yet," said Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
US District Court Judge Anthony Ishii said in his opinion that California's law mandating reduced greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, from passenger vehicles would necessarily require a substantial increase in their fuel efficiency in terms of mileage per gallon.
Car makers had argued that mileage standards are the responsibility of US regulators.
Ishii said that California still needs to obtain a waiver from the US government to implement its greenhouse gas law, which would affect model-2009 cars, sport-utility vehicles, pick-up trucks and minivans, including some which may come on the market next year.
Environmental activists cheered the decision as a major breakthrough in their legal efforts addressing global warming.
"The only thing standing in the way of California and 16 other states in implementing this clean-car law is a waiver from the EPA," said Roland Hwang, an automobile industry analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council.
(Reporting by Jim Christie; Editing by Brian Moss)
