This December, all eyes are on the leaders of the world, as in the coming weeks they will meet together in Copenhagen for one of the world’s largest conferences on greenhouse gas emissions and their contribution to global climate change.
Those who believe that climate change is a serious problem, exacerbated by the activities of humans over the last few centuries, have been disappointed by the inability of the United States, one of the biggest contributors to carbon pollution, to agree on any sort of agressive regulation of its own industries.
However, thanks to a recent announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency, it looks like Obama might not have to show up in Copenhagen empty handed.
In a much anticipated press conference held just Monday morning, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson announced that the agency had finalized its finding that greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, pose a threat to human health and welfare (TIME).
This finding has been almost three years in the making, as it was April of 2007 when the Supreme Court ruled that if emissions of greenhouse gases can be shown to be hazardous to human health, they could indeed be regulated by the EPA under the Clean Air Act.
TIME magazine reported that “under former President George W. Bush, the EPA largely punted on the question, even burying analysis from its own scientists in the waning months of his administration. When President Barack Obama took office, he directed the new EPA to kick-start the regulation process — nearly 11 months and 380,000 public comments later, the agency is now poised to regulate CO2 as a pollutant.”
Of course, large industry groups and well-known climate change deniers, like big agriculture, coal mining companies and the US Chamber of Commerce are staunchly opposed to this decision, as it has yet to be determined how the impending regulations on this toxic substance will effect the pocketbooks of the biggest emitters.
Even as politicians and lobbyists try to find new ways to stall the proposed Climate Bill and climate deniers have fun blowing the “Climategate” emails out of proportion, this ruling by the EPA gives credibility to those that argue that global climate change is a dangerous threat to people all over the world.
Armed with this finding, Obama is able to demonstrate to the Copenhagen delagates that the United States is in fact serious about regulating its own excessive carbon outputs and would be a major supporter of an international treaty on climate change. Whether the other countries involved will be satisfied with this long-overdue announcement remains to be seen, however.
The news has already had a positive effect on Danish minister Connie Hedegaard, who is presiding over the Copenhagen summit. “Every positive announcement will improve our chances of staying below the 2°C target,” she told TIME, “but we all know only too well, we are not there yet.”
Read more: clean air act, climate bill, climate change, copenhagen, epa, global warming
Image Credit: blog.nj.com
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Don't "simply" believe talktive to word not action, finally these words or actions might proof the current…
One aspect of his presidency that makes sense.....equality.
David booth will regret this exposure. He will surely feel sheepish to admit that he baited a bear to…
23 comments
+ add your owninteresting read thankyou
Hope this will happen!!
Susan Suni Ibarra - As to my credential on this subject, I have been following it for now almost 40 years. Back then we were told that it was the Albino Effect. By now Canada as well as the Northern US and Europe was suppose to be covered in glaciers. When that did not happen, we are now being told that we are going to drowned. 20 years down the road when that does not happen, we are going to be told that it is a pendulum effect. The planet will swing back and forth from Greenhouse Effect to Albino Effect until the environment collapses. While all this manure is being spread, the population in the developing world will continue to over populate. Requiring more food, water, and infrastructure. In turn there will be more deforestation for food and housing, more eutrophication of rivers and lakes as they are channelized for industry as well as flood control. Poor sanitation standards will lead to more diseases like H1N1. However, Climate change is not the problem, over population is. Stop drinking the cool-aid and wake up to the fact that you are being played like a cheap fiddle. If you want to have an impact, stop feeding the machine as well as perpetuating the manure that it produces. Cut the electric bill instead of just paying it. Grow your own food instead of buying it. learn to make your own furniture and clothes instead of buying them. Buy things close to home instead of buying imports. Another words do something instead of expecting others to do it for you.
Susan Suni Ibarra - You are the one that is clueless. First of all I am not blind, so please do not shout. First it is very rude, and secondly, your words show that you have a personal stake. I too plant trees, as well as start them and nurture them. The only difference is I do it for free. See no paycheck, so if the paycheck was not involved, how much would you be doing? What areas have you reforested that you did not collect a paycheck for. How many trees have you grown from seed and planted in others yards, for free? How about picking a 4'x4'x4' hole in solid limestone to plant trees for the elderly, all for free. So do not come preaching here.
As for your so called science, on day you will have to realize that on a global standard that you and humans are insignificant. This planet will do whatever it wants when ever it wants. As for this manure being spread by the UN in Copenhagen, it will only lead to larger populations in countries with no infrastructure to support it. This will lead to more ocean areas used for sewage treatment as well as more people scavenging dumps to make a living. Corporations will move more industry to these locations since they have no pollution laws. Look around you child, we have already ran out our industry. Pollution laws did what Labor has been blamed for. Grow and plant trees on your time and stop getting paid for something that you should be doing for free. Now, what is your thermostat set at, mine is off, and has been for 3 years.
SELWIN R. - - - - - - Your comments to Terry S. are appropriate and necessary. Obviously, this individual has opinions that he/she feels that need to be heard. But this individual has done no looking around on the planet or done any research before spewing. A strong spew needs some real facts behind it. Let Terry S. come here to visit ME, and I will take Terry all over this area, and point out all the death and destruction that is happening here from global warming. This person is OBVIOUSLY NOT a scientist, or a person who wants to listen to us petitioners who actually DO see it. But, rather than tell them to shut up - - - - and I have been guilty of this as well - - - - - - we need to holler at this person long and hard, to go out and DO the research that will lead him/her to see the truth for him/herself. This is the only way people like that learn!!!!!!!!!!
TERRY S. - - - - - GET OFF YOUR CUTE LITTLE BUMM, AND DO SOME OF THE RESEARCH WE ARE HOLLERING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE WRONG, BLESS YOU, AND WE NEED YOU TO BE ON THE SIDE OF THE PLANET - - - - AND THE TREES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TREES MAKE UP RAIN FORESTS THAT WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT, BECAUSE WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT RAIN//////WATER!!!!!!!!!! THERE ARE PLACES, EVEN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WATER TO DRINK, OR GROW OUR CROPS, AND WE ARE FIGHTING OVER IT!!!!!!!!! DO SOME RESEARCH!!!!!! COME TO CALIFORNIA AND LET US SHOW YOU JUST HOW VERY WRONG YOU ARE!!!!!! I/WE WOULD
Terry S. - - - - - I am a tree planter!! I plant trees because we have cut down too many trees from this planet. Our rain- forests are named that because the ast expanse of trees CAUSES RAIN TO FORM AND HAPPEN!!!!!!! THAT'S WHY IT RAINS E*V*E*R*Y D*A*Y IN A RAIN FOREST!!!!!!! This North America of ours was solid forest, from sea to shining sea when the white man set foot here, and we cut it all down!!!
YES, INDEED, TREES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!! WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS PLANTING AS MANY TREES BACK ONTO THIS PLANET AS WE CAN!!!! THE TREES ARE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PRIMARY SOURCES OF RAIN - - - AND OXYGEN!!!!!! WHEN THE TREES LOSE THEIR LEAVES IN AUTUMN, WE LITERALLY LOSE 20% OF THE OXYGEN IN OUR AIR!!!!!!!! TREES ARE EXTREMELY VITAL TO ALL LIFE ON THIS PLANET!!!!!!! HONEY!!!!!!
I AM NOT SOUNDING OUT AT YOU IN ANGER!!!!! I AM SHOUTING AT YOU IN FEAR AND SADNESS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND JUST HOW IMPORTANT OUR TREES ARE TO LIFE ON THIS GIANT ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE DO SOME PERSONAL RESEARCH ON THIS SUBJECT, SO YOU'LL KNOW JUST HOW VITAL TREES ARE TO LIFE ON THIS PLANET, OR THEY WOULD NOT HAVE EVOLVED INTO TREES IN THE FIRT PLACE!!!!! THERE WAS AND IS A NEED FOR THEM AND THEIR OWN PERSONAL WORK ON THIS PLANET!!!!!!
Again, I see more lip service then I do sweat equity. The expectation is that if forced, industry will lead and the people will follow. This is not how it works folks. What we have is Industry leaves and the people are worst off. The bulk of the waste is at the home level. A homeless shelter or a prison is more efficient per resident then any other form of housing. The problem is, we prefer not to live communally. Living in such a style creates even more social problems, so the concept is hardly worth it. So for any savings in energy, requires a personal commitment on behalf of the citizens. This is not even occurring with the advocates, but they are still trying to force the rest to comply. Economic and environmental feasibility is not a requirement. For example, how many cities have public transportation that runs with no subsidies? If the system can not operate economically, chances are, they are also not environmentally feasible either. Since they create more pollution then they remove.
As well, how many have a yard full of grass. While a lawn may look pretty, due to maintenance requirements, it creates more pollution than it cures. As well planting trees will not solve all the problem, if the leaves are raked and place on the curb for pick up. Sorry, my mistake, raking the yard is work, must use a blower instead. That is not to mention that 75% of the garbage from the house can be composted. Paying someone to do it for you will always cost more, can you afford it?
Thanks for raising awareness.
John Coleman, meteorologist and the founder of the Weather Channel, says "The science of meteorology is my lifelong expertise. And I am telling you global warming is a non-event, a manufactured crisis, a total scam."
We either reduce Climate Warming or watch our grandchildren starve, thirst or drown in the oceans which can no longer feed them.
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment
20