The Oregon Court of Appeals has agreed to expedite a case challenging the state's "climate protection program." (Capital Press file photo)Opponents of Oregon’s “climate protection program” have persuaded a state appellate court to speed up the litigation against emissions limits affecting farms and other businesses. Environmental groups have also convinced the Oregon Court of Appeals to allow them to voluntarily intervene in the lawsuit and defend the climate protection program’s legality alongside the state’s Department of Environmental Quality. Policy supporters seek standingSeveral nonprofit supporters of the program — Beyond Toxics, Climate Solutions, Oregon Business for Climate, Oregon Environmental Council, Rogue Climate and Verde — also asked the appellate court for permission to participate in the litigation. The Court of Appeals has determined that after considering the “arguments and the circumstances of this case,” it’s “appropriate to permit intervention.”