California ? A federal judge in San Francisco on Monday poked a gaping hole in California’s bid to make the auto industry pay for any contributions it makes to global warming.

In a 24-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Martin Jenkins dismissed the state’s lawsuit against six automakers, concluding that the federal courts are not the place to resolve the complex issues surrounding global warming. The judge said it is up to Congress and the executive branch to address California’s arguments, not judges.

The ruling is a major setback for Attorney General Jerry Brown, who has made global warming one of his cornerstone issues since he was elected last year.