EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases Pose Danger to Public

On April 17, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed finding that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pose a danger to the public's health and welfare. The EPA said it found that “greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations” and human activities spur global warming. “These high atmospheric levels are the unambiguous result of human emissions, and are very likely the cause of the observed increase in average temperatures and other climatic changes,” the agency said in its finding.

Earlier this week, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) gave its approval to the EPA proposal, which followed the April 2007 Supreme Court decision requiring the EPA to rule on whether or not GHG emissions pose a danger to the public. “This finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations. Fortunately, it follows President Obama’s call for a low carbon economy and strong leadership in Congress on clean energy and climate legislation,” EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said. “This pollution problem has a solution – one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country’s dependence on foreign oil.” It was noted in the press release by the EPA that both President Obama and Jackson have indicated a preference for comprehensive legislation to address this issue versus regulations under the Clean Air Act.

For additional information see:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/0EF7DF675805295D8525759B00566924
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/17/AR200904...
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1732459820090417
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/science/earth/18endanger.html?hp
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jbtRZWd2aArVab_f4DS-ok...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123997738881429275.html

(This article is from EESI's weekly electronic newsletter Climate Change News . To read more from Climate Change News or sign up for a free subscription, please click here .)