At a press conference, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that greenhouse gas emissions threaten human health and the environment.

What today’s announcement means:

A federal government entity finds that greenhouse gases threaten human health and the environment. Six gases are included in the findings: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafloride.

How did the EPA come to this conclusion?

Science overwhelmingly shows greenhouse gas concentrations at unprecedented levels due to human activity. And the EPA finds that greenhouse gas emissions from on-road vehicles contribute to that threat.

The findings do not impose any emission reduction requirements, but allow the EPA to finalize the greenhouse gas standards proposed for new light-duty vehicles, which would reduce millions of tons of emissions and conserve nearly 2 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of these vehicles.

What today are the implications of the announcement?

Timing- The EPA chose to release its findings on the first day of the Copenhagen Climate Conference. It is thought that this announcement, along with the President’s support of provisional targets, will give the U.S. greater clout in the international climate negotiations.

Pressure on Congress - As mentioned in last week’s episode, the EPA’s action is meant to put the pressure on Congress, especially the Senate, to enact climate legislation. It worked.
In response, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) is telling his Republican colleagues they should back a climate bill so that Congress, not the EPA, defines the rules on national emissions.

Press reaction - Although the EPA did not mention new regulations, national newspapers clearly thought this announcement was laying the foundation for future greenhouse gas regulations.

Please stay tuned to NGN as we’ll be watching, reporting and commenting on all the action at Copenhagen!

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