States suing EPA to move on global warming

Citing Supreme Court ruling, allies want to force rules within 60 days

BOSTON – A coalition of states is suing the Bush administration to force it to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that rebuked what justices called inaction on global warming.

The Supreme Court said in April 2007 that carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is a pollutant subject to the Clean Air Act. The court directed the EPA to determine if carbon dioxide emissions, linked to global warming, endanger public health and welfare.


If that is the case, the court said, the EPA must regulate the emissions.

The 18 states, two cities and 11 environmental groups said in a court filing set for Wednesday that the EPA has not issued a decision on regulation. Their court filing seeks to compel the EPA to act within 60 days.