Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor ruled for the Sierra Club yesterday (April 19) in a suit it had filed against the county's Climate Action Plan (CAP). The club argued that the county plan contains no enforcement mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The judge's tentative decision came out Wednesday and arguments were Friday. Sierra Club attorney Cory Briggs argued that the county had promised an enforceable emission reduction plan, but delivered one that was entirely voluntary. "The CAP fails to meet...emission reduction goals and targets," ruled Taylor. "The CAP regards its goals and strategies as mere recommendations."

In December, Judge Taylor also took on the topic of greenhouse gas emissions. In Cleveland National Forest Foundation vs. San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), Taylor ruled that SANDAG's transportation plans for following decades did not properly address greenhouse gas emissions. California Attorney General Kamala Harris agreed with Cleveland's position. The plaintiffs won and SANDAG has appealed.