The US government looks set to be forced into regulating the emissions produced by new vehicles, following a landmark court ruling.

The US Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country, has said that the government was wrong to claim it did not have the power to regulate emissions produced by new cars and trucks.

According to the ruling, which saw five judges ruling in favour with four against, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had provided no "reasoned explanation" for deciding not to regulate emissions from vehicles, meaning the body will now need consider regulations for new vehicles.

The decision came in a case brought by 12 US states and 13 campaign groups against the EPA, arguing that the US government had a duty under the country's Clean Air Act to restrict greenhouse gas emissions.

It had been argued by the EPA that carbon dioxide was not a pollutant and therefore could was not subject to the regulation.

The court concluded: "Because greenhouse gases fit well within the Clean Air Act's capacious definition of 'air pollutant', we hold that the EPA has the statutory authority to regulate the emission of such gases from new motor vehicles."

Sources:

'US must regulate car pollution', 2/4/07

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6519923.stm

'Global Warming Ruling Called Victory for the Bad Guys', 2/4/07

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200704/NAT20070402c.html

'Green groups win court fight', 4/4/07

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21500039-663,00.html

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