throughout the West, and indeed throughout the country, the building and development industry is facing a new challenge: the emergence of climate change as an issue raised by development opponents. In California, for example, several lawsuits have already been filed alleging that agencies charged with performing environmental review of proposed land development projects have failed to consider those projects' climate impacts.

California's attorney general has submitted public comments during the environmental review periods of other local agency transportation and land use projects urging analysis and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions impacts. Other attorneys general, state legislators and governors are beginning to fill the federal regulatory void by enacting or advocating for mandatory greenhouse emissions rules at the state level.