Birdwatcher’s Guide to Global Warming

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed finding on April 18th stating that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases (methane, nitrous oxide, hydroflurocarbons, perfluorocabons, and sulfur hexafluoride) threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. Changes in the earth’s climate as a result of the build-up of greenhouse gases are affecting food production, the spread of infectious diseases, water supplies, and altering habitats that birds and other wildlife as well as plants depend on for their survival.

This long-awaited finding comes two years after the 2007 Supreme Court decision, Massachusetts v. EPA, which ordered the agency to reconsider whether greenhouse gases are pollutants subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Under the previous administration, the EPA had been reluctant to identify such emissions as pollutants under the CAA because it was opposed to putting mandatory limits on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

“EPA’s proposed finding marks a major shift in the federal government’s approach to global warming and could trigger federal regulations which would affect polluters from vehicles to coal fired power plants,” said Anne Law, ABC’s Deputy Director of Conservation Advocacy. “This proposed endangerment finding is a major victory for environmental protection and bird species threatened by changes in the global climate that we are already witnessing.”

At the announcement of the EPA’s proposed endangerment finding Administrator Lisa Jackson reiterated President Obama’s desire to see Congress pass comprehensive climate change and energy legislation to fully address the issue. However, if Congress does not act, the administration is likely to implement regulations to curb carbon dioxide and the other greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.

EPA will accept public comment on the draft finding until June 23. Click here for directions on how to submit comments. The agency will hold two public hearings on the matter in May. If the proposed endangerment finding becomes final, legal experts believe the agency will have no choice but to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under Section 202 of the Clean Air Act.