Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Air Quality

State of California Sues Carmakers on Climate Change

smog_over_la.jpg

If you think Eliot Spitzer picked some tough fights as Attorney General, check out this guy Lockyer in California:

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California filed a global warming lawsuit on Wednesday against Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and three other automakers, charging that greenhouse gases from their vehicles have cost the state millions of dollars.

State Attorney General Bill Lockyer said the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Northern California was the first of its kind to seek to hold manufacturers liable for the damages caused by their vehicles' emissions.

The lawsuit also names Chrysler Motors Corp., the U.S. arm of Germany's DaimlerChrysler, and the North American units of Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd..

It also charges that vehicle emissions have contributed significantly to global warming and harmed the resources, infrastructure and environmental health of the most populous state in the United States.

Lockyer, a Democrat, said the complaint states that under federal and state common law the automakers have created a public nuisance by producing "millions of vehicles that collectively emit massive quantities of carbon dioxide."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

‘A Tombstone’: Abandoned Bicycles Outside Federal Courthouse Are a Symbol of U.S. War on Immigrants

At least four bicycles and one moped are chained up and seemingly abandoned outside the federal courthouse. They are symbols of America's war on immigrants.

August 15, 2025

Friday Video: Poor Bike Lane Design Shouldn’t be a Ticketable Offense

The Manhattan entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge bike path is confusing and dangerous, but that hasn’t stopped police from preying on cyclists.

August 15, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Carlina, We Hardly Knew Ye Edition

A Downtown Council member with a great legacy resigns. Plus other news.

August 15, 2025

City Council Vows To Override Mayor’s ‘Senseless’ Vetoes

Speaker Adrienne Adams vows to override the mayor's recent vetoes of two bills that would expand labor protections and minimum wage to grocery delivery workers using Instacart.

August 14, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Veto Oh No Edition

Mayor Adams has gone so far to the right in his quest to retain his office that he's not even listening to his own damn self. Plus other news.

August 14, 2025

Greenway Master Plan Shows the Way … For The Next Mayor

There's a master plan, now all we need is someone to do it!

August 14, 2025
See all posts