Climate: California tackles automakers

[Targol]

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - California, home to nearly one in eight Americans, on Wednesday attacked auto groups, asking them, for the first time in the United States, to report on their contribution to global warming.

The Minister of Justice of the great Western American state, Democrat Bill Lockyer, announced Wednesday in a statement that he launched civil lawsuits against six US and Japanese automakers: Chrysler, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

"Global warming is causing significant damage to California's environment, economy, agriculture and public health. (Its) impact is already costing millions of dollars and the price is rising day by day," says Mr. Lockyer.

"Vehicle emissions are the fastest growing source of carbon emissions contributing to global warming, but the federal government and automakers have refused to act. It is time for these companies to be held accountable for their contribution to this crisis. ", writes Mr. Lockyer.

California, the richest and most populous American state, has 35 million inhabitants and some 32 million vehicles are registered there. The largest city in the state, Los Angeles, regularly ranks among the most polluted cities in the United States.

The complaint, filed on behalf of the "Californian people", asks for damages, the amount of which is not specified. The 15-page text claims that automakers have created a "public nuisance" by producing "millions of vehicles that collectively emit massive amounts of carbon dioxide," a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

According to Mr. Lockyer, pollution from cars accounts for "almost 20%" of the carbon dioxide emitted in the United States. This proportion rises to 30% in California, he said.

California, a territory the size of Italy, already has to respond to many environmental challenges, such as its water supply. The state "spends millions of dollars to plan, monitor and adapt its infrastructure to the current and expected consequences" of warming, according to the minister.

"As a coastal state, agricultural state and state dependent on its 'winter snow cover on the Sierra Nevada mountain range,' California is playing very big in acting now to combat global warming," Lockyer said. .

The California authorities, state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead, are in conflict over environmental issues with the administration of President George W. Bush.

Schwarzenegger is expected to enact a law by the end of the month calling for a reduction in greenhouse gases. This will be the first time that a US state will commit to following the Kyoto Protocol.

The United States, responsible for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, has not ratified the protocol, concluded in 1997 and entered into force in 2005 for the signatory countries. Bush reiterated that the constraints of this international treaty were threatening industries in his country.

On July 31, Mr. Schwarzenegger criticized the ineffectiveness of US policy in the fight against global warming and declared that "California (would not) wait for the federal government to take action" in this area.

source: AFP

[binbins4]

so may be the return of GM's EV1
https://www.econologie.com/forums/voiture-el ... t2129.html