EPA SAYS GREENHOUSE GASES POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH

摘要

EPA has determined that greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon dioxide (CO2), contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare, a finding that is a major step toward enabling the agency to regulate GHGs as pollutants using existing Clean Air Act authority. The EPA endangerment finding comes on the heels of a parallel proposal in Congress introduced by representatives Henry Waxman (D, CA) and Edward Markey (D, MA). The bill would mandate a cap-and-trade program for GHGs, but prohibit the regulation of GHGs under existing air authority.