Climate 411

EPA Reports on Danger of Greenhouse Gases

By John Balbus / Published: July 22, 2008

John BalbusThis post is by John Balbus, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Health Scientist at Environmental Defense Fund.

Despite EPA’s refusal to formally acknowledge the danger of greenhouse gases in its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), two recently released EPA reports detail the health dangers of greenhouse gases.

The first, a support document for the ANPR [PDF], summarizes the extensive body of science showing that global warming pollution presents a serious threat to human health and the environment. The document is labeled "draft" and stamped "do not circulate or cite", but is listed on the EPA Web site as one of the supporting documents for the released ANPR. From the Executive Summary:

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Also posted in Health / Comments are closed

Stephen Colbert Clip: Priceless

By Sheryl Canter / Published: July 18, 2008

Sheryl CanterThis post is by Sheryl Canter, an online writer and editorial manager at Environmental Defense Fund.

Check out Stephen Colbert on the EPA’s decision to delay regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s hilarious.

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Also posted in Cars and Pollution / Read 1 Response

EPA Chief Stops Action on Global Warming – For Now

By Tom Olson / Published: July 14, 2008

Tom OlsonThis post is by Tom Olson, a consulting attorney for the Climate and Air Campaign at Environmental Defense Fund.

Last Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally released its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – EPA’s answer to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that greenhouse gases fall within the Clean Air Act’s definition of "pollutant".

There are a number of differences between the final document and the leaked May 30th draft. (See this post from a Georgetown Law professor praising the draft’s balance and expertise.) Most significantly, EPA chief Stephen Johnson prefaced the document with a series of denunciations by White House officials. And then, adopting the views of the White House, he disparaged the work of his own staff.

The final version also included some disturbing changes to the analysis itself.

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Also posted in EPA litgation, Policy / Read 1 Response

Picturing U.S. Carbon Emissions

By Sheryl Canter / Published: June 30, 2008

Sheryl CanterThis post is by Sheryl Canter, an online writer and editorial manager at Environmental Defense Fund.

How much do different sectors of the U.S. economy contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and how much does this vary by region? That’s a complicated question, but you can see the answer at a glance through a nifty, interactive map on the New York Times Web site.

A bar across the top gives the overview by sector – electric, transportation, industrial, residential, and commercial. Click on a bar to see the breakdown by state, shown on a map of the U.S. via proportionally-sized circles. When you hover your mouse on a circle, you see text with the state name and million metric tons of emissions.

If you’d like to dig into the numbers in full, gory detail, check out the latest U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report.

Posted in Greenhouse Gas Emissions / Comments are closed

Court Denies Petition to Compel EPA Compliance with Supreme Court

By Vickie Patton / Published: June 27, 2008

Vickie PattonThis post is by Vickie Patton, deputy general counsel at Environmental Defense Fund, and former attorney in EPA’s General Counsel’s office.

Yesterday, the D.C. Circuit denied the petition for writ of mandamus filed by a coalition of states and environmental organizations to enforce the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on global warming in Massachusetts v. EPA. The coalition asked the court to instruct EPA to carry out its duty, under the Supreme Court’s decision, to determine within 60 days whether global warming pollution endangers human health and welfare.

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Also posted in Clean Air Act / Comments are closed

Legal Action to Compel EPA Compliance with Supreme Court

By Vickie Patton / Published: April 2, 2008

Vickie PattonThis post is by Vickie Patton, Deputy General Counsel at Environmental Defense Fund, and a former attorney in EPA’s General Counsel’s office.

One year ago, the Supreme Court rejected the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claim that it lacked legal authority to regulate global warming pollution (for example, from vehicle tailpipes). EPA administrator Stephen Johnson promised a firm and prompt response to the high Court’s decision, but a year passed with no action.

Then on March 27, Johnson recanted his commitment.

So today, a broad coalition of 18 states, 3 cities, and 11 non-profit organizations (see full list*) took legal action to compel EPA to comply. The parties are led by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and include Environmental Defense Fund.

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Also posted in Cars and Pollution / Read 13 Responses