EPA Calls Carbon Emissions 'Danger to Health and Welfare', Lays Ground for Regulation
Very good news, I think, on the climate change front. This is an excellent way to sidestep the political process and keep the necessary changes from getting bogged down in the politics:
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.
Businesses argue that such a finding would mean even emitters as small as a mom-and-pop grocery store would be forced to comply with onerous greenhouse gas regulations. The administration has crafted rules that would exempt facilities that emit less than 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide or its equivalent annually. But it remains unclear if that exemption would hold up in court.
"An endangerment finding from the EPA could result in a top-down command-and-control regime that will choke off growth by adding new mandates to virtually every major construction and renovation project," Thomas Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. "The devil will be in the details, and we look forward to working with the government to ensure we don't stifle our economic recovery."
"This is an excellent way to sidestep the political process and keep the necessary changes from getting bogged down in the politics:"
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
You mean someone is still listening to their BS??
yes.
"Trust no one, Mr. Mulder." - Well-Manicured Man
.
with additional fee's and costs, higher prices?
the real world. Except for taxes on profits businesses do not pay any taxes. They merely collect them on behalf of the government. This is not limited to big businesses. Every business does it regardless of size.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
and Rash Lameballs....on his radio show today, stated that since carbon dioxide is what we as humans exhale every time we breathe.....it's only a matter of time before an employer is hit with a lawsuit because someones co-worker breathed on them!
these people are insane I tell you!
all it takes is all of us
based on their carbon footprint. Given that Rush's hot air emissions rival those from whole countries in the developed world, I can see where his concern is coming from...
And don't be too surprised if it is initiated by a pedo pig listener.
"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..."
"It could trigger a series of federal regulations affecting polluters, from vehicles to coal-fired power plants."
Since I exhale carbon dioxide am I to be considered a danger to public health and could I then be under federal regulations as a polluter?
Now I'll be thrown into the Rash Lameball crowd...
to the applause of the "self called" progressives, the Obama administration just hung a big fat curve ball in the Fatboy's strike zone.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
you have more important problems to worry about than whether or not you are going to be taxed while waiting to exhale... just sayin'
Chamber of Commerce:
We are exceeding the limits of growth.
The sociopath Capitalists want unending growth, we live on a finite planet.
The challenge for sane people is to stop the Capitalists before they destroy the earth and all life on it.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
if we have to chose between our economic activity and our life on the planet, chances are that we're doing it wrong. It doesn't take a genius to realize that having an economic system based on the expectation of infinite growth while living in a planet of finite resources... it is bound to be a bad idea.
If all we're going to do is simply glance at our navels living a life whose only mission is the making and buying of trinkets... while completely trashing the place in the process, at some point I assume mother nature will grow tired and will start to look for a more creative/worthy species at the top of the food chain.
I suspect that stronger action than typing harsh words in a comment section on a liberal blog may be necessary.
the emergency agenda that the United States faces - namely the urgent re-scaling, re-localizing, and de-globalizing of our daily activities.
Capitalists only care about hiding behind the legal shields of their trans national corporate persons and moving capital freely around the globe in search of the LOWEST labor costs.
Ok, where are the limits? Who is to set them?
Let's just say I decided I WANT to destroy the earth.
How would I do it?
We all are doing right this moment.
The Carbon Clock is here
George Monbiot writes about it here
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
Carbon dioxide accounts for less than ten percent of the greenhouse effect, as carbon dioxide's ability to absorb heat is quite limited
Only about 0.03 percent of the Earth's atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide (nitrogen, oxygen, and argon constitute about 78 percent, 20 percent, and 0.93 percent of the atmosphere, respectively).
This is from the Energy Information Administration, a DOE department.
Global ice is at 1979 levels, the year that measurements started being made.
http://www.meteorologynews.com/2009/01/05/glo...
Where is the warming, rising oceans, flooded coastal cities?
You cite Patrick J. Michaels who is funded by Western Fuels Association, a Coal supplier.
Tsk, tsk……
It is fine to have a legitimate debate, it is not fine to be funded by a vested interest.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
Yes, they discovered that the Arctic ice coverage had spread out to 1979 levels - but now we know that the once-healthy ice is too thin to support polar bears.
But you go on and believe whatever you want. You will, anyway.
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
I agree. We are all destroying the planet right now.
I also think awareness and action, on a large scale, requires a push from the governement. We need a united effort. Alice with her heat at 55* is very cool, but she can't do it alone.
Example: In the 1970s "oil crisis", in Canada, we had a lot of PSAs urging us to insulate, caulk, turn down the thermostat and be aware of our energy use/waste. The results were astonishing. People cut way way back, and we all did it. We all talked about it with each other.
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
Well, no surprise that controlling CO2 finds opposition from the GOP then....
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
our trashing of the environment and polluting the place until we make it not fit for human existence will not affect the planet. The earth will still be there, it is us who won't be able to stick around.
It is not about saving the planet, it is about saving US.
no movement on climate change regulations until those stolen emails are thoroughly investigated w/ lengthy congressional hearings (costly too, I imagine). Of the thousands, they are concerned with one, taken out of context, of course. Can you believe the size of the BALLS on these losers? and they must be made of brass. I don't hear them crying for hearings into war crimes, but some emails by scientists? Call the cops!
Denmark has cut its carbon imprint by 12-13% and its economy has grown 45% in the same time. McGramps's state is in throws of a 15 year drought, and a rise in sea level will eff up Miami, NOLA (more than it is since Katrina) and NYC/Jersey. Do they want any of that economy growth? Nope, not unless it involves oil and war.
me-oww!
GDP - real growth rate: -1.2% (2008 est.)
1.6% (2007 est.)
3.3% (2006 est.)
Year GDP - real growth rate Rank Percent Change Date of Information
2003 1.80 % 139 2002 est.
2004 .00 % 189 -100.00 % 2003 est.
2005 2.10 % 163 2004 est.
2006 3.20 % 135 52.38 % 2005 est.
2007 3.20 % 151 0.00 % 2006 est.
2008 1.70 % 190 -46.88 % 2007 est.
2009 -1.20 % 209 -170.59 % 2008 est.
Definition: This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a percent.
This is growth?
It might also be noted that the GDP of Denmark is about the same as the state of Washington, 14th on the list of STATES.
"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority."
E. B. White (1899 - 1985)
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
that's another problem.
They can't imagine any life other then a "consumer" orgy with promises of great wealth if we just buy enough stuff.
Our "stuff" allows us to appear rich.
That's the key to consumerism and marketing. Whiter teeth makes you one of the beautiful people, this car will get trophy girlfriends to sleep with you, this pill will give you Hercule's boner, these implants are safe and will make you a supermodel, these shoes will get you in any exclusive nightclub....
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
"Our "stuff" allows us to appear rich."
If the measure is how much of the natural resources we consume - we are very rich indeed. To allow the balance of the planet to consume as much as we do it would take more than another earth.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
from the Ukraine the other night at a private gathering in the burbs. She came to the U.S.
She mentioned how hard it is there, no work period but here in the U.S. you can always go out and get a job and bring home money.
To her this economy is wonderful. She does accounting for a small company and she's thrilled to have a humble apartment, decent clothes, decent food, heat.
Compare that to most Americans attitudes these days.
Where's my McMansion MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Perfect for getting you in to see the President and/or on Fux.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Tiger the billion dollar man.
GOP attacks on the "misguided" Obama Administration in 5...4...3...
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Any port in a storm, these assholes are there
I can't even come up with curse words nasty enough to describe these Thugs. They don't exist.
me-oww!
..was hacked into to get those e-mails? Maybe they just want to find out who really did it? Then again, maybe the thugs don't...
and I'll add the snark, just because!
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
[Evet, quit starting off topic subthreads. We're getting tired of it-Sitemonitor]
Hey...it's Monday...i just finished my football gin.
Two shots and ya kick off.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Just doing my part to make sure GB remains our ally in the "War on Whomever"...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
but alas health probs keeps me herbal.
I can have a drink once in a blue moon.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Most of my recreational drink consumption is stuff like Kava and other stress reducing herbal teas these days.
..one bottle and I don't drive my truck!
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
LOL
just wanted make sure you had something to do. LOL
About flippin' time.
then we have with say Automobile emissions-pollution.
feces. Did anyone argue back in the day against the cost of improving sewage and water treatment in general?
I've seen some stuff, man. And some thangs...
... they thought the shit after taste in their water supply was a superdelux "feature."
fertilizer. . "Fertile-Tech" . . raising the organic standard to new heights.
It's about time that Obama has taken a little unilateral action. We elected this guy to get things done. So far he's spent more time giving the Republicans the tools for their obstructionism than being the boss. The wingnuts have spend so much time accusing this accomodating, concensus building guy with being a dictator, he might as well do little dictating. The left will cheer and the right will do what they have been doing. Opposing him no matter what he does.
i've read over the yrs. that 40% of the air pollution in california comes from CHiNA. we can expect this to continue with the increasing # coal fire plants and the pent-up middleclass wannabes. CHiNA is ramping up for a huge push for "consumerism". this will add to the air pollution/use of resources. i'm still learning about "global warming" but i do have an understanding for the need to become more resource/energy efficient. not only for the waste/pollution production but to reduce/stop the conflicts/war(s) to establish resource dominance. this country must lead by example or some of the emerging markets will ignore the reality/shift the cost to others.
but if your neighbor loaned you a few trillion dollars you can hardly go over and complain about the smoke from his BBQ grill...
I've seen some stuff, man. And some thangs...
Well said.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
china owns our collective ass. they buy our debt/treasuries and we want them to participate in the "green" movement. the chinese cry foul thinking/claiming we are interfering with their economy/movement to being a/the "super power". i find it somewhat interesting that the cost of cheap/easy money that ruled the day in this country is coming to roost.
As long as CO2 enforcement is not selectively handed down to the US, but is broadly applied to ALL countries including China, India, Vietnam etc., this may work. If however, the US is hobbled by regulations but China is not, this will be nothing but another giveaway to the corporations that already are fucking us in the ass. (No offense to buggery practicers intended.)
Calculate your own carbon footprint, and/or that of your household
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechan...
(New) Wiki Green-- educational site.
http://green.wikia.com/wiki/Wikia_Green
I was not too bad, but not great, and below the national average. The place I rent is not very energy efficient-- not good. And I fly a lot-- bad. No cars-- good. Little meat-- good. No composting (but where can I)-- not good.
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
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