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November 26, 2006
High court to hear global warming case
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court hears arguments this week in a case that could determine whether the Bush administration must change course in how it deals with the threat of global warming.A dozen states as well as environmental groups and large cities are trying to convince the court that the Environmental Protection Agency must regulate, as a matter of public health, the amount of carbon dioxide that comes from vehicles.
Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels are burned. It is the principal "greenhouse" gas that many scientists believe is flowing into the atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, leading to a warming of the earth and widespread ecological changes.
The Bush administration intends to argue before the court on Wednesday that the EPA lacks the power under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant. The agency contends that even if it did have such authority, it would have discretion under the law on how to address the problem without imposing emissions controls.
The states and more than a dozen environmental groups insist the 1970 law makes clear that carbon dioxide is a pollutant that is subject to regulation because its poses a threat to public health.
A sharply divided federal appeals court ruled in favor of the government in 2005. But last June, the Supreme Court decided to take up the case.
The ruling next year is expected to be one of the court's most important ever involving the environment.
To be honest I don't hold out a lot of hope for this verdict given that the Surpreme Court is stacked with a bunch of Neo-Con idiots that woudn't know sound science if it smacked them in the head. But hopefully they can get past the political hoo ha and put forth a verdict that not only helps our environment, but in the long run it's better for We the People as well. However given that the court's corporate masters don't want to cut back on carbon dioxide because they don't care if we destroy the planet as long as they are making a buck right now, I doubt anything will change. I guess we'll see soon.
Found via USAToday.
Posted by Dianne at November 26, 2006 5:35 PM
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