PCL Insider: News from the Capitol

A LEGAL LICKING, A NOBEL GESTURE, AND A PLANET MELTING FASTER THAN EXPECTED: HOT WEEK FOR GLOBAL WARMING

Yesterday, the state of California prevailed in a lawsuit filed by the Auto Industry which had sought to overturn tougher emission standards for new cars and trucks. AB 1493, also known as the Pavley Standard, limits the greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles sold in California beginning in model year 2009. The federal judge who dismissed the suit relied on the string of recent court decisions regarding global warming in his rejection of the automakers' arguments.

California must still receive a waiver from the U.S. EPA to implement the law, and the Bush Administration continues to drag its feet on California's request. 

On Monday, Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) accepted the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change."

In his acceptance speech, Al Gore called on the United States and China, the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, "to make the boldest moves, or stand accountable before history for their failure to act."

Listen to Gore deliver his Nobel lecture.
Listen to R. K. Pachauri, Chairman of the IPCC deliver his Nobel Lecture.

Their plea for planetary action couldn't be more urgent.

Earlier this week, NASA released new satellite data showing faster melting of arctic ice than previously estimated, reinforcing the growing concern that climate models have been too conservative. NASA climate scientist Jay Zwally characterized the situation bluntly: "The Arctic is often cited as the canary in the coal mine for climate warming. Now as a sign of climate warming, the canary has died. It is time to start getting out of the coal mines."

We encourage all our readers to talk to their local officials about actions that public agencies can take to cut greenhouse gas emissions and prepare their jurisdictions for climate impacts. Stay tuned for next week's PCL Insider when we'll announce our latest campaign to help you change the forecast for the planet at the local level!

LOOKING FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION CREDIT?  COME TO THE PCL SYMPOSIUM FOR 5.5 HOURS OF FUN!

At PCL's Annual Environmental Legislative Symposium we pride ourselves on offering the best legal and policy information around. This year, in addition to our workshops for grassroots activists and policy makers, we're offering four continuing legal education courses totaling 5.5 hours of credit. Even if you're not an attorney, you'll want to keep "au courant" on the latest legal decisions and dicta. Our only edict: Fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities today (i.e. register for the Symposium)!

Our 2008 MCLE panels include:

Impacts of New Water Projects
--David Sandino (Department of Water Resources)
--Hap Dunning (UC Davis School of Law)
--Jill Willis (Best Best & Krieger LLP)

Can Local Land Use Policies Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
--Sydney Coatsworth (EDAW)
--Steve Kostka (McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen)
--Terry Roberts (State Clearinghouse)

To Trade or Not to Trade: Pros and Cons of a Market-Based Regulatory Approach to Climate Change Mitigation
--Chuck Shulock (California Air Resources Board)
--Michael Wara (Stanford University)
--Jane Williams (California Communities Against Toxics)

Hot Topics in CEQA Litigation: Where are the Courts Heading?
--Susan Brandt-Hawley (Brandt-Hawley Law Group)
--Tamara Galanter (Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP)
--Jim Moose (Remy, Thomas, Moose & Manley)

Learn more about these panels in our Symposium brochure.

There are just 4 weeks left until the Symposium. Register today to save your seat!