28.6.2012 US court backs CO2 emissions regulations

Regulations that limit greenhouse gas emissions have been upheld by a US court supporting the Obama Administration's pledge to control emissions, the first ever US-proposed greenhouse gas directives.

Along with other industries, this will have a significant impact on the US vehicle sector. With road transport responsible for a large proportion of the US's CO2 emissions, the court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were correct in believing greenhouse gases to be a public danger, and "unambiguously correct" by enforcing the Clean Air Act.

The court agreed that the EPA were being neither "arbitrary nor capricious" when setting emissions limits from road vehicles. While the adjudication will be challenging for many industries to accept, it is being seen as a significant success for the Obama Administration.

Lisa Jackson, EPA administrator said that the EPA had "followed both the science and the law in taking common-sense, reasonable actions to address the very real threat of climate change by limiting greenhouse gas pollution from the largest sources."

The EPA now has a clear path to continue limiting CO2 from various industries under the Clean Air Act – they have announced that they will be setting new vehicle emissions standards this summer. The decision to continue to tighten regulation is regarded as complex and costly to manufacturers.

Industry groups brought the issue to court in February with the argument that tight regulations will spur job cuts and damage the economy. However, the news is positive for the environment, and will force car manufacturers to continue to invest in creating more efficient vehicles that use less fuel and produce fewer emissions.

The Guardian