California sues 6 carmakers over greenhouse gases
Long at the front of environmental efforts, and often ridiculed because of it, California filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against six major automakers today. The allegation is that these automakers have caused millions of dollars worth of spending by the state due to increased greenhouse gases resulting from running their automobiles. State Attorney General Bill Lockyer said the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Northern California is the first to seek damages based on vehicle emissions. Named in the suit are Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp., Chrysler Motors Corp., and the North American branches of Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. California's regulations to limit greenhouse gases from vehicles through its California Air Resources Board (CARB) have often caused friction between the state and automakers. California, with an estimated 26 million vehicles on the road, often sets automotive and environmental trends because it accounts for 10% of national auto sales. Automakers frequently incorporate the more restrictive California requirements into the whole fleet rather than producing different versions of the same vehicle for California and other states that adopt its policies.
[Sources: Reuters, CARB]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Phong 6:03PM (9/20/2006)
I hope you californians are happy with your hybrids. Cause thats all you will be driving soon.
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Hillary Clinton 6:08PM (9/20/2006)
Why stop with the automakers? Sue the people of California next for purchasing new vehicles!
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James 6:09PM (9/20/2006)
i hope california falls off of our continent soon. Some of the dumbest ideas come out of that dumb state.
Sincerely,
-The East Coast.
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toby 6:10PM (9/20/2006)
Wait a second. The state sets the laws on emissions and the car companies can not sell cars there unless they meet those standards. So now the state is going to sue for meeting those standards? Wow. that is all I can say. WOW.
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Fabulo 6:09PM (9/20/2006)
From the common sense dept.:
Technically, the automakers are selling the vehicles in california. That causes minor emission (other than transporting the actual vehicle there).
The responsible party is the one that buys the gas and drives around. The real polluter is the driver.
They don't sue gun makers for murder (they tried, it did not work). They don't sue TV stations for lowering IQ. They do sue McDonalds for getting people fat (but that did not work either)
The manufacturers aren't responsible for the pollution.
Idiots.
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Juan 6:10PM (9/20/2006)
Not a productive way to handle the situation.
If California has a problem with the greenhouse gases produced by internal combustion engines, they should subsidize the production of viable alternatives.
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Judd 6:15PM (9/20/2006)
It must be election time.
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Havanahjoe 6:16PM (9/20/2006)
They should have not killed the electric car. This too won't last, it will be withdrawn but someone had a stupid idea to try to get some attention.
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Opposite Lock 6:19PM (9/20/2006)
Toyota!! But their cars don't pollute. How is this possible?
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cade 6:23PM (9/20/2006)
The auto makers should agree to sell no cars in California or to a California resident. Then maybe the power companies and don't let those big trucks drive on their highways....
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Ron 6:23PM (9/20/2006)
Don't blame Californians. Blame the wacky liberals who unfortunately, live in our state and believe in the "Green House" effect (bulls#$t) to begin with.
East Coast, worry about your own backyard.....you have
earthquake too.....
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Californian George 6:24PM (9/20/2006)
And this is with a Republican governor. We aren't liberal enough just yet. Sue those terrorists!
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Colin 6:24PM (9/20/2006)
ohy, its embarrassing living in California sometimes...
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Chivo 6:25PM (9/20/2006)
Well, if you guys spent a day in L.A., you would understand. Seriously, you can out for an hour, come back into your house, get a damp rag and clean your face, and it will be gray from smog.
Now, Ford and GM killed the fast transit systems L.A. had in the forties. What goes around comes around.
However, I do agree this lawsuit is stupid. Want less greenhouse emmissions? Improve mass transit!!!!!!!! I live in the SF Bay Area, and its ridiculous how much BART (Bay Area Rapit Transit) charges for a round trip. From one end of the line to Downtown, they charge $11.00 roundtrip. Just ridiculous and a ripoff. So, before suing automakers, IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!!!!!
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FGT 6:27PM (9/20/2006)
This is stupid. Why not just ban cars in California all together??? Or instead of rappers buying Escalade's and Bentley's, make them drive a hybrid.
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skaz 6:38PM (9/20/2006)
I'm emberassed for Californians.
But, as a Zonie, I personally wouldn't mind having some beach.
Let California fall into the ocean. Stay if you want, but I'm not going to complain when it happens.
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toby 6:38PM (9/20/2006)
Off subject but was Ford in on the buying of the nations street car lines in the '40s? The TV special I saw only pointed a finger at GM. They ,through a company they owned bought up steet car companies and pushed cities into buying their GM buses.
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arnie 6:39PM (9/20/2006)
Why not ban breathing? That would solve all problems in about 5 minutes.
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Thank you california 6:41PM (9/20/2006)
The golden state has done it again. Thanks california. Our heart goes out to you. You are the golden state, the beacon for the future.
You are using your economic power for good and a noble cause in the right way. Lets hope this lawsuit is successful and raises awareness.
Detroit has been killing the environment for quite sometime now. its time for change. When will ford and GM relize that its time to move ahead.
heavy vehicles, whether cars or trucks or SUVs, are harming the environment.
This vehicle obesity epidemic is going to kill everybody.
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Stphane Dumas 6:44PM (9/20/2006)
I wonder if Weird Al Yankovic could do a spoof of the Mamas and Papas hit "California'Dreamin" called "California Nightmare"? ;-)
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