Landmark case in US
In one of the most environmentally significant court decisions for decades, the US Supreme Court has agreed that it is within its jurisdiction to decide whether or not the federal government is legally required to control carbon dioxide emissions.
The states of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, as well as 3 cities and 12 environmental groups sued the government in 1999 arguing that the carbon dioxide is one of the pollutants that the US’s Clean Air Act should regulate (it doesn’t currently, but the complainants say that it legally has to). Other states (like California) have proceeded on the assumption that carbon dioxide does come under the Act, and have made changes accordingly, which are now being challenged by those affected, like car manufacturers.
It’s not a victory for environmentalists yet, but the very fact that the court has ruled that it is able to make a decision on this matter is a big deal. Another one to watch with interest.
June 27th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
Given that the supreme court is stacked with conservatives, I am not holding my breath. That said, there seems to have been a large number of rats leaving the sinking ship that is the Bush administration lately, maybe they will surprise us all.
June 28th, 2006 at 11:40 am
3 or 4 States out of 52 recognising carbon dioxide emissions as a pollutant to regulate is a beginning, but probably not enough to get Federal Administration to take notice. Given that they’re not signatory to the Kyoto Protocols.
It will be very interesting to see if the US Supreme Court rules against current Federal policy weightings. The Bush administration is definitely getting an exit message from a lot of different angles at the moment!
December 18th, 2006 at 11:15 am
The US is no further behind China in living in its own toxic dumpland.
There Big oil rules and people get sick, where big Pharma picks up, forever creating the almighty dollar for the coffers. Human health means nothing to these world CEO’s and greed prevails. The top 1% hold 50% of the worlds wealth. ever wondered how that happened? and it usually aint being like Mother Teresa. The worlderness suffers and so will the inhabitants. Its unfortunately the way we are, well not all of us though.