Eighteen states sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday for failing to limit greenhouse gas emissions from new vehicles. The suit comes one year after the Supreme Court’s landmark decision outlining that the EPA had the power to limit said emissions under the Clean Air Act. In addition to these 18 states, 3 cities and 11 environmental organizations have also signed onto the suit.

The Supreme Court ruling was viewed as a major defeat for the Bush administration given their policy on global warming. Although the administration has admitted that some aspects of climate change are human-caused, they have been widely opposed to “across-the-board” limits on carbon emissions.

“Once again the EPA has forced our hand, which has resulted in our taking this extraordinary measure to fight the dangers of climate change,” Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a statement. “The EPA’s failure to act in the face of these incontestable dangers is a shameful dereliction of duty.”

EPA chief Stephen Johnson said after the April 2, 2007 ruling that the EPA would respond by the end of the year, but they have yet to do so. The suit outlines that the EPA must respond to the High Court’s decision within 60 days, but environmental lawyers say a response is unlikely while President Bush is still in office.

and contact your EPA regional office and tell them to comply with the Supreme Court decision. You can also to learn about steps you can take to reduce your own carbon emissions.