佛蒙特州聯邦法庭12日支持州政府改採新的汽車排放標準，這項標準在加州已經立法，決定對汽車溫室氣體排放有新的限制。這些標準在2016年完全實施後，希望能降低由汽車排放造成全球暖化的氣體約30%。
這場官司是由美國汽車製造商和經銷商所提起訴訟，他們覺得佛蒙特州對廢氣排放限制的規定，在不提及全球暖化的前提下，對工業界來說是沈重的負擔，且會引起過度的經濟損失。
佛蒙特州美國地方法院首席法官駁回製造商和經銷商所有對佛蒙特州溫室氣體排放標準的控訴，規定汽車製造商要符合由加州及其他14州所提出的新標準。
法官證實佛蒙特州2005年對溫室氣體排放的立法，不受聯邦法所箝制。
在「清淨空氣法」下，加州及其他州可以在美國環保署的認可下，訂定比聯邦更嚴格的標準，但聯邦機構尚未對加州在2005年提出的要求做出回應。
如果環保署的回應是拒絕同意加州對汽車加強排放標準的要求，加州檢察官布朗誓言「要讓布希政府上法庭」。
對於法院的判決，布朗說：「很不幸的，如果環保署堅持反對加州提出的訴願，今天讓加州維持溫室氣體排放標準的決定，有可能是一場空虛的勝利。」
布朗說：「我們的請願是以合理的方式來減少溫室氣體排放，對這項請願擱置近兩年是很丟臉的事。」
山巒協會首席氣候顧問布克班德說：「今天在佛蒙特州的決定，對打擊全球暖化是一項戲劇化的勝利。如果我們能藉此防止全球暖化的災難，它便證實各州對保護其公民及每個人的需求，提出了更寬廣、更具視野的行動。」
A federal court in Vermont today sided with the states that have adopted new clean car standards enacted by California in a decision that paves the way for new limits on greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. These standards are expected to reduce global warming emissions from cars some 30 percent when fully implemented in 2016.
The lawsuit was brought by U.S. automakers and dealers, who claimed Vermont regulations setting limits on these emissions are burdensome and cause undue economic harm to the industry while not addressing global warming.
William K. Sessions III, Chief U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Vermont, rejected all of the manufacturers' and dealers' challenges to the state greenhouse gas emissions standards, ruling that auto manufacturers can meet the new standards adopted by California and 14 other states.
Judge Sessions affirmed that Vermont's 2005 law to control greenhouse gas emissions is not preempted by the federal law.
Under the Clean Air Act, California and the other states can adopt stricter than federal standards by obtaining a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, but the federal agency has not acted on California's request for a waiver, made in 2005.
In response to the ruling, California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. renewed his vow to "haul the Bush administration into court" if the EPA refuses to grant California's request to impose tough emissions standards on motor vehicles.
Responding to today's decision Brown said, "Unfortunately, today's decision upholding California's greenhouse gas emissions standards will turn out to be a hollow victory if the EPA persists in denying California's waiver petition."
"Our petition represents a reasoned approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and it has been shamefully ignored for almost two years," Brown said.
Sierra Club's Chief Climate Counsel David Bookbinder said, "Today's decision in Vermont is a dramatic win in the fight against global warming. It affirms the rights of states to move forward with the kind of bold, visionary action that they need in order to protect their citizens and everyone needs if we are to prevent the most catastrophic effects of global warming."
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
