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EPA Warns of Global Warming, Spurs New Policy

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 23, 2009 6:43 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Environmental Protection Agency sent the White House a message today that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are detrimental to human health, Reuters reports. The "endangerment finding" may open the door for Washington to curb emissions that cause global warming. "I think it's historic news," one advocate said. "It is going to set the stage for the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution."

Democrats also hailed the move, which will likely lead to a cap-and-trade system that President Obama supports. An executive at the US Chamber of Commerce was less thrilled. "They're playing a very dangerous game with the way they're moving forward," said William Kovacs, who called Obama's plan to limit greenhouses gases a "risk."

Steam rises from the cooling towers of the 2,000MW flexible coal Eggborough electricity power station on March 13, 2009 near Selby, England.
Steam rises from the cooling towers of the 2,000MW flexible coal Eggborough electricity power station on March 13, 2009 near Selby, England.   (Getty Images)
Steam rises from the cooling towers of the Ferrybridge power station on March 13, 2009 in Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, England.
Steam rises from the cooling towers of the Ferrybridge power station on March 13, 2009 in Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, England.   (Getty Images)
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson speaksat the National League of Cities conference, Monday, March 16 2009, in Washington.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson speaksat the National League of Cities conference, Monday, March 16 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Barack Obama makes remarks about investments in clean energy and new technology included in the budget,  Monday, March 23, 2009, in Washington.
President Barack Obama makes remarks about investments in clean energy and new technology included in the budget, Monday, March 23, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A smoke stack emits fumes June 2, 2007 in Sydney Australia.
A smoke stack emits fumes June 2, 2007 in Sydney Australia.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
maevealleine
Mar 24, 2009 12:19 PM CDT
When the Republicans were in office, the EPA would never have dared make this announcement.
northeast
Mar 24, 2009 3:06 AM CDT
I take it that you, like myself, have never heard a rebuttal to the fact that temperatures on Mars have increased at the same rate as Earth's since the 1970's.
northeast
Mar 24, 2009 3:05 AM CDT
It threatens business. Ordinarily that may not be seen as a problem, but when you've just given said business trillions of dollars it gets difficult to justify both courses of action at once.

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