CA Tosses Global Warming Suit v. Automakers

Plan to reduce carbon emissions by 15%

(NEWSER) - California regulators have adopted an ambitious, comprehensive blueprint to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2020, reports the Los Angeles Times. The plan, the first of its kind in the nation, calls for 33% of the state's electric power to come from solar power and wind farms, and includes controversial measures to crack down on carbon dioxide emissions from cars. The plan will be implemented over the next two years. More»

(NEWSER) - Arnold Schwarzenegger says he'll take the Environmental Protection Agency to court if California doesn’t get a green light for its tough new auto emissions laws within six months. "The clock is ticking. If we don't see quick action from the federal government, we will sue the EPA," Schwarzenegger said yesterday. More»

Other states are watching to see how well program works

(NEWSER) - California became the first state in the nation to adopt its own cap-and-trade system yesterday, as its Air Resources Board voted unanimously to approve the regulations. The vote came after a grueling eight-hour meeting filled with the opinions of angry union members, disapproving industry representatives, and miscellaneous plan supporters, the LA Times reports. After the board finally held the vote, chairman Mary Nichols announced, “We’ve done something important.” More»

Experts warn consequences could be dire

(NEWSER) - Greenhouse gas emissions rose by a record amount in 2010, leading to the worst-ever carbon output in history, according to unpublished International Energy Agency estimates. The record rise—which, contrary to some predictions, even the recession couldn’t curb—means that hopes of keeping global warming to a safe level is nearly out of reach, the Guardian reports in an exclusive. The paper had previously reported that in order to prevent potentially “dangerous climate change,” we must keep the global average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius . But the IEA's chief economist now says that idea is just “a nice Utopia.” More»

Computer giant goes with outward flow over lobbyist's climate position

(NEWSER) - Apple has joined a growing list of companies to ditch the US Chamber of Commerce over its skeptical view of climate change. “We strongly object to the Chamber’s recent comments” calling for a “Scopes Monkey Trial for the 21st century” to expose climate change fallacies, says a company statement. Big energy concerns such as Exelon and Pacific Gas have done the same, and Nike resigned its spot on the group's board last week, notes Politico. More»