Climate of Our Future

Climate Crisis Coalition

California Attorney General and San Bernardino County Settle Lawsuit on Greenhouse Emissions
By Margot Roosevelt, The Los Angeles Times, August 22, 2007
“California officials have settled a greenhouse gas suit and agreed to monitor the effects of rapid growth on the environment. San Bernardino County, one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation, will be forced to measure how much it contributes to global warming and set targets to begin cutting its greenhouse gas emissions in the next 2 1/2 years, according to a legal settlement announced Tuesday. The case, brought by Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, had opened a new front in the battle against climate change, which has so far been dominated by efforts to regulate power plants, industrial factories and vehicle tailpipe emissions. Counties across California are grappling — some voluntarily and others reluctantly — with the realization that local decisions about where to allow new subdivisions and roads, and how buildings are constructed, are factors in the climate changes that are depleting the water supply, fueling forest fires and amplifying air pollution in the state… Brown said that the settlement with San Bernardino County, which is expected to grow by 500,000 people by 2030, ’sets the pace for how local government can adopt powerful measures to combat oil dependency and climate disruption.’”