Cal AG to Counties: Plan Smarter or See You in Court

OAKLAND — Underscoring the urgent need to combat global warming, Attorney General Jerry Brown warned county leaders from across the state Tuesday that they must reduce greenhouse gases when planning new developments or run the risk of costly lawsuits.

For example, he said, counties can cut down on future carbon emissions by placing high-density housing next to offices and public transit centers, thus reducing commuter car trips.

"If the ice in Greenland — just part of it — melts at the rate it's going, it won't be too long until Oakland's and San Francisco's airports are under water," Brown told more than 500 leaders gathered in his hometown of Oakland at the annual California State Association of Counties conference.

Inside Bay Area