The times really are a’ changing. The state of California has launched an unprecedented lawsuit against the six largest carmakers in the US for allegedly contributing to global warming. The state has accused Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler and Nissan of creating a “public nuisance” and costing it millions of dollars. Environmental campaigners have hailed the lawsuit as a landmark event in the effort to deal with global warming.
The suit, filed in a US district court in northern California, alleges that vehicle emissions have contributed significantly to global warming, and argues that the car manufacturers should be held responsible for the past and future cost of combating this crisis.
“Global warming is causing significant harm to California’s environment, economy, agriculture and public health,” said the state’s Democratic attorney general, Bill Lockyer, who filed the complaint. “The impacts are costing millions of dollars and the price tag is increasing … It is time to hold these companies responsible for their contribution to this crisis.”
The complaint further argues that monitoring and addressing the effects of global warming has cost the state millions of dollars. “Global warming has already injured California, its environment, its economy, and the health and well-being of its citizens,” the complaint states, adding that dealing with global warming’s harmful effects in the future, “will almost certainly cost millions more”.
This is great news. Only another forty nine states to go…