China unveils economic plan with focus on raising incomes and reining in pollution

BEIJING — China’s leaders unwrapped a new five-year economic blueprint on Saturday that set ambitious goals to raise ordinary people’s incomes, rein in pollution and energy use, and build advanced-science industries in fields like biotechnology and environmental protection.

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Boiler and incinerator regulations are so hot

In an attempt to reduce pollution from boiler and incinerator emissions, the U.S. EPA establishes new standards under the Clean Air Act.

These standards are set to cover more than 200,000 boilers and incinerators that emit harmful pollution including mercury, cadmium, and particle pollution.

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DOT, EPA Propose the Nation’s First Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Trucks and Buses

EPA and DOT logos (2010)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced the first national standards to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and buses. This comprehensive national program is projected to reduce GHG emissions by about 250 million metric tons and save 500 million barrels of oil over the lives of the vehicles produced within the program’s first five years.

EPA and DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are proposing new standards for three categories of heavy trucks: combination tractors, heavy-duty pickups and vans, and vocational vehicles. The categories were established to address specific challenges for manufacturers in each area. For combination tractors, the agencies are proposing engine and vehicle standards that begin in the 2014 model year and achieve up to a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel consumption by 2018 model year.

Feds to propose FIRST EVER truck fuel efficiency rules

From the Associated Press: 

"Future tractor-trailers, school buses, delivery vans, garbage trucks and heavy-duty pickup trucks must do better at the pump under first-ever fuel efficiency rules coming from the Obama administration."

"The fleet of new cars, pickup trucks and SUVs will need to reach 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, and the government is developing plans for future vehicle models that could push the standards to 47 mpg to 62 mpg by 2025."

Is this good enough?

Katrina Survivors Attempt to Sue Carbon Emitting Corporations

A group of Mississippi residents are trying to sue large carbon emitting corporations such as Exxon, Shell, Chevron, as well as other. 

The plaintiffs claim these companies had a responsibility to void endangering environmental and human health, as well as personal property and public property.

To read more please follow this link: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/04/katrina-victims-sue-corporate-greenhouse-gas-emitters/

Keep in mind some issues while reading the article. Do the plaintiffs have proper standing against the defendants in whom they are trying seek relief from?  How can the plaintiffs prove that these corporation had a hand in creating or making hurricane Katrina worse then what it would have been had the corporations not emitted so much carbon? If the court sides with the victims, how will the judge equitably apportion the percentage of damage each corporation is responsible for and apportion its individual contribution to the damages that hurricane Katrina caused, especially when there are so many unnamed defendants who could also be named as contributors to the carbon problem?  

Do the Mississippi Plaintiffs have a strong case?

Is this a good way to push the legislature to enact climate legislation?

What are the arguments from both side? 

California's Smog creates $193 Million Healthcare Bill

RAND - a non profit research group dedicated to public policy issues says that the air pollution in California is causing over $193 million in hospital based medical care each year. The medical costs are mostly related to respiratory illnesses such as asthma and pneumonia. Over two thirds of the costs are covered by government run medical programs like Medicare and Medi-Cal.

As future lawyers, what can we do about this problem?  Can we effect legislation?  Lobby for better regulation dealing with smog pollution?  Help eco-entrepreneurs get greener products on the market?  Or are we just left to pick up the pieces for those who have been injured due to air pollution? There are so many different contributors and factors to smog that it is hard to pinpoint an single resolution to the problem.  How else do you think we, as future lawyers, can positively contribute to reducing the impact of smog and other air pollutants?

Read more at Inhabitat.com.