The Supreme Court ordered the federal government today to take a fresh look at regulating carbon dioxide emissions from cars. In a 5-4 decision, the court said the Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from cars. Greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the landmark environmental law, Justice John Paul Stevens said in his majority opinion. The case is Massachusetts v. EPA, 05-1120.Greenhouse gases, flowing into the atmosphere and oceans at an unprecedented rate, are leading to larger extreme climatic events, rising sea levels and other marked ecological changes.The politics of global warming have changed dramatically since the court agreed last year to hear its first global warming case. Business leaders are saying they are increasingly open to congressional action to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, of which carbon dioxide is the largest. Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas are burned.The court had three questions before it.
Do states have the right to sue the EPA to challenge its decision?
Does the Clean Air Act give EPA the authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases?
Does EPA have the discretion not to regulate those emissions?
The court said yes to the first two questions. On the third, it ordered EPA to re-evaluate its contention it has the discretion not to regulate tailpipe emissions. The court said the agency has so far provided a "laundry list" of reasons that include foreign policy considerations. The majority said the agency must tie its rationale more closely to the Clean Air Act.The decision also is expected to boost California's prospects for gaining EPA approval of its own program to limit tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases. Federal law considers the state a laboratory on environmental issues and gives California the right to seek approval of standards that are stricter than national norms.
California's Breakthrough on Global Warming Could Have a Major Impact on Policy in Washington
August 30, 2006
Governor Schwarzenegger has embraced a cap on vehicle and industry emissions as a way to make California a trendsetter in fighting global warming. California's Global Warming Solutions Act aims to cut emissions to 1990 levels, or around 25 percent, by 2020 with an enforceable cap and mandatory reporting for top polluters.
California's breakthrough on global warming could have a major impact on policy in Washington. The nation's most populous state is the world's 12th-largest emitter of greenhouse gases and could suffer dire consequences if global temperatures increase only a few degrees. California is the world's 6th-largest economy.
Governor Schwarzenegger in the breakthrough pushed for a market-based system that will eventually give companies tools to meet emissions targets, like carbon credit trading.
National Submissions to the U.N. Climate Secretariat in Bonn 2005
Most of the rise in greenhouse gases was caused by a 1.7 percent gain in emissions in the United States, the world's biggest source of greenhouse gases, to a record 7.07 billion metric tons. Emissions in the European Union and Canada also rose while Japan's dipped.
Most Industrialized nations except the United States and Australia have ratified Kyoto, which obliges an overall cut in emissions of at least 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12 with a shift to cleaner energies such as wind and solar power.
Kyoto is meant as a tiny first step by rich nations to slow global warming that many scientists say could spur more heat waves, droughts, floods, more powerful storms and swamp coastal areas by melting ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland.
Things you can do today to reduce Global Warming
There are many things you can do in your daily life that can have an effect on your immediate surrounding, and on places as far away as Antarctica. Here is a list of things that you can do to make a difference.
There are many things you can do today to reduce your own adding to on this problem!
Tropical Tree Growth Slowed
Other big changes are being monitored in the tropics, too.
Data on tree growth, tropical air temperatures and CO2 readings collected over 16 years indicate that a warming climate may cause the tropical forests to give off more carbon dioxide than they take up.
This would upset the common belief that tropical forests are always a counterbalance to carbon, taking huge amounts out of the atmosphere.
The study, by Deborah and David Clark of the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica, and Charles Keeling and Stephen Piper of the Scripps Institution, reports that rainforest trees grow much more slowly in warmer night time temperatures, which is a hallmark of climate change in the tropics.
Tropical Tree Charles Keeling
Landscaping Your Home for Energy EfficiencyIn Winter, by maximizing solar heating while deflecting winds away from your home; and in Summer by maximizing shading while funnelling breezes toward your home.
Do states have the right to sue the EPA to challenge its decision?
Does the Clean Air Act give EPA the authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases?
Does EPA have the discretion not to regulate those emissions?
The court said yes to the first two questions. On the third, it ordered EPA to re-evaluate its contention it has the discretion not to regulate tailpipe emissions. The court said the agency has so far provided a "laundry list" of reasons that include foreign policy considerations. The majority said the agency must tie its rationale more closely to the Clean Air Act.The decision also is expected to boost California's prospects for gaining EPA approval of its own program to limit tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases. Federal law considers the state a laboratory on environmental issues and gives California the right to seek approval of standards that are stricter than national norms.
California's Breakthrough on Global Warming Could Have a Major Impact on Policy in Washington
August 30, 2006
Governor Schwarzenegger has embraced a cap on vehicle and industry emissions as a way to make California a trendsetter in fighting global warming. California's Global Warming Solutions Act aims to cut emissions to 1990 levels, or around 25 percent, by 2020 with an enforceable cap and mandatory reporting for top polluters.
California's breakthrough on global warming could have a major impact on policy in Washington. The nation's most populous state is the world's 12th-largest emitter of greenhouse gases and could suffer dire consequences if global temperatures increase only a few degrees. California is the world's 6th-largest economy.
Governor Schwarzenegger in the breakthrough pushed for a market-based system that will eventually give companies tools to meet emissions targets, like carbon credit trading.
National Submissions to the U.N. Climate Secretariat in Bonn 2005
Most of the rise in greenhouse gases was caused by a 1.7 percent gain in emissions in the United States, the world's biggest source of greenhouse gases, to a record 7.07 billion metric tons. Emissions in the European Union and Canada also rose while Japan's dipped.
Most Industrialized nations except the United States and Australia have ratified Kyoto, which obliges an overall cut in emissions of at least 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12 with a shift to cleaner energies such as wind and solar power.
Kyoto is meant as a tiny first step by rich nations to slow global warming that many scientists say could spur more heat waves, droughts, floods, more powerful storms and swamp coastal areas by melting ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland.
Things you can do today to reduce Global Warming
There are many things you can do in your daily life that can have an effect on your immediate surrounding, and on places as far away as Antarctica. Here is a list of things that you can do to make a difference.
There are many things you can do today to reduce your own adding to on this problem!
Tropical Tree Growth Slowed
Other big changes are being monitored in the tropics, too.
Data on tree growth, tropical air temperatures and CO2 readings collected over 16 years indicate that a warming climate may cause the tropical forests to give off more carbon dioxide than they take up.
This would upset the common belief that tropical forests are always a counterbalance to carbon, taking huge amounts out of the atmosphere.
The study, by Deborah and David Clark of the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica, and Charles Keeling and Stephen Piper of the Scripps Institution, reports that rainforest trees grow much more slowly in warmer night time temperatures, which is a hallmark of climate change in the tropics.
Tropical Tree Charles Keeling
Landscaping Your Home for Energy EfficiencyIn Winter, by maximizing solar heating while deflecting winds away from your home; and in Summer by maximizing shading while funnelling breezes toward your home.
Buy a Hybrid Car
The average driver could save 16,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $3,750 per year driving a hybrid.
Buy a Fuel Efficient Car
Getting a few extra miles per gallon makes a big difference.
Save thousands of lbs. of carbon dioxide and a lot of money per year.
Carpool When You Can
Own a big vehicle? Carpooling with friends and co-workers saves fuel.
Save 790 lbs. of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year.
Inflate Your Tires
Keep the tires on your car adequately inflated.
Save 250 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $840 per year.
Change Your Air Filter
Check your car's air filter monthly.
Save 800 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $130 per year.
Reduce Garbage
Buy products with less packaging and recycle paper, plastic and glass.
Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.
Composting helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the number of trips trucks must make to the landfill as well as the amount of methane released by our landfills.
Use Recycled Paper
Make sure your printer paper is 100% post consumer recycled paper.
Save 5 lbs. of carbon dioxide per ream of paper.
Buy Minimally Packaged Goods
Less packaging could reduce your garbage by about 10%.
Save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide and $1,000 per year.
Unplug Un-used Electronics
Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy.
Save over 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $150 per year.
Plant a Tree
Trees provide a microclimate and sustained moisture for you.
Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breath.
Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year
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