County Sued Because General Plan Doesn't Consider Global Warming

In the first suit of its kind in the state, if not the country, a Southern California county was sued by environmental groups because their general plan doesn't consider the effects of global warming. The state attorney general has joined the suit.

1 minute read

April 23, 2007, 5:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"The state's lawsuit comes a couple of days after environmental groups sued the county on similar grounds, alleging the county's new general plan should have discussed ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

"California Attorney General Jerry Brown (former Oakland mayor and state governor) filed the suit under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), arguing that San Bernardino County failed to evaluate and disclose the impending impacts of the plan on climate change and air quality."

"The general plan is the overarching vision of where houses, businesses and open space will be over the next 25 years.

The state's global warming law calls for greenhouse gas emissions to be cut to 1990 levels by 2020."

"However, the county notes that the bill wasn't signed by the governor until last September, 'when the general plan was in the home stretch before its final adoption last month (March, 2007).'"

"It's not fair to impose complex and undefined new requirements on a plan that has been in the works for years," said David Wert, county spokesman..."There are no state guidelines on how to address global warming in the planning process".

Thanks to Edward A. Mainland

Saturday, April 14, 2007 in The San Bernardino Sun

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3, 2025 - Governing

White park shuttles with large Zion logo on side and red rock cliffs in background in Zion National Park.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

5 hours ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Chart of federal transportation funding comparing Biden and Trump administration spending.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden

Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

6 hours ago - Transportation for America

Close-up on yellow and black TAXI sign on top of beige car in central Munich, Germany.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence

Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.

7 hours ago - Bloomberg