Obama administration will formally declare danger of carbon emissions

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

Obama administration will formally declare danger of carbon emissions

By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 7, 2009; 9:48 AM

The Obama administration will formally declare Monday that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions pose a danger to the public's health and welfare, a move that lays the groundwork for an economy-wide carbon cap even if Congress fails to enact climate legislation, sources familiar with the process said.

The move, which Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa P. Jackson will announce at an afternoon press conference, comes as the largest climate change conference in history gets underway in Copenhagen. It will finalize an initial "endangerment finding" by the government in April.

While an EPA spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter, the agency sent out a press advisory that Jackson will make "a significant climate announcement at a press briefing" at 1:15 p.m. at EPA headquarters. Jackson will also speak at the U.N.-sponsored climate conference Wednesday; her address is titled "Taking Action at Home." Obama, who will attend the end of the U.N. talks Dec. 18, has sent a series of recent signals to the international community that the United States will curb its carbon output as part of a new global climate deal.

The endangerment finding stems from a 2007 Supreme Court decision in which the court ordered the EPA to determine whether greenhouse gases qualify as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act. It could trigger a series of federal regulations affecting polluters, from vehicles to coal-fired power plants.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/07/AR2009120701645.html?hpid=topnews

[salguine]

1. Now the big question is, will they actually DO anything beyond making a "formal declaration"?

[NYC_SKP]

4. Yes, they already have. I'm surprised that you don't know about mileage and home energy standards,

etc, etc, etc.

Lots of action on a national level regarding energy, which is really about climate change AND energy independence, and more.

[Canuckistanian]

2. And on Tuesday, they'll declare water moist

Is this REALLY something that needs a formal announcement?

[SpartanDem]

3. It's more than just an announcement

the EPA formally declaring CO2 pollutant lays the groundwork for actually regulating it.

[Canuckistanian]

5. I just heard about that on Hartmann's show

Apparently, the EPA has already won the right to regulate CO2 emissions in a Supreme Court decision.

So, does this mean the EPA is now officially charged with proceeding with regulations?

[SpartanDem]

11. That is exactly what it means

the EPA can now proceed with the process of issuing rules for greenhouse gases

[Canuckistanian]

13. Ironically

It would be the first time since Nixon that the EPA could make a real difference.

[Solly Mack]

6. k/r

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[superconnected]

8. About damn time.

[jpak]

9. but...but...but Obama = Bush!!!111

this can't be happening!!!111

:evilgrin:

[fascisthunter]

10. no turning back....

[Quantess]

12. Yeah, but, it's really cold outside.

Global warming sounds nice right about now.