Calif. sues carmakers over greenhouse gas

SACRAMENTO, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- California is suing the six largest U.S. and Japanese automakers in federal court for damages in connection with greenhouse gas emissions.

The lawsuit alleges that emissions from vehicles made by the companies have harmed Californians' health and damaged the environment -- and cost the state millions of dollars to deal with the effects of the emissions, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The state has previously filed other lawsuits related to global warming issues, the newspaper said.

The Legislature passed a bill last month intended to regulate industrial greenhouse gas emissions. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to sign the measure into law by the end of the month, the Times reported.

After the state enacted similar restrictions on auto emissions two years ago, carmakers challenged the regulations in a lawsuit filed in federal court.

Sean McAlinden, an economist with the nonprofit Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., told the newspaper California Attorney General Bill Lockyer might have had the November election in mind when he filed the suit.

"This is the silly season of elections in the fall, and obviously he thinks this will gain him a few marginal votes," said McAlinden.