California and Victoria agree to combat climate change together

It has been a long time since I have taken back my unflattering comments about Arnold Schwarzenegger upon becoming the governor of California. Everything he does about global warming confirms my decision. Because he is a Hollywood star - a major one - with a direct line to the electorate, perhaps he does have the cachet needed to short-circuit traditional politics and it's embedded vested interests - like the fossil-fuel industry. He certainly is running counter to the Bush line on global warming and, as we can see by his latest move, he is recruiting like-minded leaders around the world in his campaign to tackle climate change square-on.

clipped from www.smh.com.au California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has recruited an Australian ally in his plan to terminate global warming. Victorian Premier Steve Bracks "We have to take care of our world," Schwarzenegger told reporters after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Victoria to share environmental expertise. "We have to fight global warming." Schwarzenegger has been a leader in environmental reform in the US, overcoming resistance from President George W Bush's administration. California imposed America's first mandatory cap on greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions set to be cut by 80 per cent by 2050. Victoria, along with other Australian states and territories, have set targets to cut 60 per cent of emissions by 2050. The MOU will allow California and Victoria to share expertise in climate change, develop emission trading schemes and carbon offsets and encourage the development of clean energy technology.

Bush forced to regulate carbon dioxide from cars

In enormous news for the mitigation of global warming, the US Supreme Court has forced their federal government to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from cars. The directive forces the Bush Administration into a major policy u-turn: :::[CNN]

In a 5-4 decision, the court said the Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from cars.

Greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the landmark environmental law, Justice John Paul Stevens said in his majority opinion.

The EPA had previously argued that the tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases were out of its jurisdiction. A coalition of 12 states and 13 environmental organisations, frustrated with Bush Administration inaction and obstruction on global warming, took the EPA to court:

The court had three questions before it.

--Do states have the right to sue the EPA to challenge its decision?

--Does the Clean Air Act give EPA the authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases?

--Does EPA have the discretion not to regulate those emissions?

The court said yes to the first two questions. On the third, it ordered EPA to re-evaluate its contention it has the discretion not to regulate tailpipe emissions. The court said the agency has so far provided a "laundry list" of reasons that include foreign policy considerations.

The majority said the agency must tie its rationale more closely to the Clean Air Act.

Justice Stevens' says his position "involves no judgement on whether global warming exists, what causes it, or the extent of the problem". The decision clears the way for the state of California to gain EPA approval for its own programme to limit tailpipe emissions. Federal law considers the state a laboratory on environmental issues and gives California the right to seek approval of standards that are stricter than national norms.

This is world-changing. California was the first state to introduce laws requiring catalytic converters to eliminate toxicity from fuel emissions, in 1975. This had implications for the rest of the world as it embraced the change. An additional benefit was the phasing out of high-octane leaded petrol that masks the effect of catalytic conversion.

Global Warning Climate Change Environment CO2 Kyoto Energy