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U.S. Utilities Sued Over Climate Change
Climate Justice Programme, 21 July 2004 -- The Climate Justice Programme welcomed the legal action launched today by eight U.S. States and New York City. Until huge cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are made, the world will see more of this kind of legal action and the U.S. States and New York City are to be congratulated for leading the way.
Climate Justice Programme, 21 July 2004
The Climate Justice Programme[ 1 ] today welcomed the legal action launched today by eight US States and New York City.[ 2 ]
In a statement, Peter Roderick, Director of the Climate Justice Programme said:
"This is a historic moment – the world's first legal action to stop greenhouse gas emissions. The companies being sued are amongst the biggest emitters and they know full well that every tonne of carbon dioxide they emit increases the risk of serious damage. Until huge cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are made, the world will see more of this kind of legal action and the US States and New York City are to be congratulated for leading the way."
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Peter Roderick
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Notes
[ 1 ] The Climate Justice Programme (http://www.climatelaw.org) is an initiative hosted by Friends of the Earth International. It aims to encourage and support the enforcement of the law internationally to combat climate change in the run up to the start in 2005 of negotiations for further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. Over 70 organisations and lawyers are signatories to its Statement of Support, including Greenpeace, WWF and organisations based in developing countries.
[ 2 ] The attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, as well as New York City's corporation counsel, will file a public nuisance lawsuit today (Wednesday) in federal court in Manhattan, according to a draft news release, reported by AP. Named will be American Electric Power Co. (AEP), Southern Co. (SO), Xcel Energy (XEL), Cinergy (CIN) and the federal Tennessee Valley Authority.
