Global warming case goes before Supreme Court

[tbone]

I'm not sure where I fall on this as I drive a large truck that gets like 16 miles to the gallon and using more energy than many third world countries. But wanted to point out a quote towards the bottom, bolded and underlined for your reading pleasure. It is aimed at those who continue to question whether man has anything to do with global warming.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Environmental groups and a dozen states will argue the U.S. government should regulate emissions of greenhouse gases that spur global warming in a pivotal case before the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Plaintiffs in the case, which is known as Massachusetts v. EPA, contend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's mandate to shield Americans from harmful pollution includes putting limits on car, truck and power plant emissions that have been shown to hasten climate change.

But the EPA, along with 10 states, four motor vehicle trade associations and two coalitions of utility companies and other industries maintain the agency lacks the authority to limit emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.


At the heart of the case is a dispute over whether greenhouse gases fit within the federal Clean Air Act's definition of a pollutant. If they do, the plaintiffs argue the EPA then has the authority to regulate them.

Greenhouse gases occur naturally and are also emitted by cars, trucks and factories into the atmosphere. They can trap heat close to Earth's surface like the glass walls of a greenhouse.

Emissions have risen steeply over the past century and many scientists see a connection between this rise and an increase in global average temperatures and a related increase in extreme weather, wildfires, melting glaciers and other damage to the environment.

This case is not a debate about whether these emissions are linked to global warming. The Bush administration, and in fact President George W. Bush himself, have acknowledged this link, and Bush told a summit of industrialized nations this year that human activities play a role in world climate change.

FULL ARTICLE

[7960]

Lovelock said temperature rises of up to 8C were already built in and while efforts to curb it were morally commendable, they were wasted.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...src=rss&rpc=22

Since it's hopeless already, why bother?

[Dumpy Dooby]

I can't help but see a parallel between global warming and western religiosity. We have our pseudo-religious apocalyptic scare tactics. We have religious authorities. Environmental ethics/morals. Ideologies.

It's all a bunch of crap.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Dumpy Dooby

I can't help but see a parallel between global warming and western religiosity. We have our pseudo-religious apocalyptic scare tactics. We have religious authorities. Environmental ethics/morals. Ideologies.

It's all a bunch of crap.

Just like the ozone scare mongers, right?

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Just like the ozone scare mongers, right?

There are recent studies that are showing that the ozone layer thins and expands in cycles. This is being shown through the fact that the hole in the ozone layer has actually gotten MUCH smaller over the past few years. From '03 to '04 it dropped from 29 million sq km to 24 million sq kilometers.

Theories are showing the hole in the ozone layer is linked to climates of the arctics (which are also cyclical).

We can go on and on. The idea that man has a major role on the hole in the ozone layer is also widely disputed. The "ozone scare mongers" can't account for much of the facts and data coming out about the ozone layer.

[Thorgrim]

lakes also expand and shrink in cycles, but if you break the dam the lake will disappear

Ozone depletion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The dispute was settled in the early 90s, I'd really like to see you come up with a credible scientist who says CFC's the ozone weren't significantly related

[RMNIXON]

It is not a pollutant unless it comes out of the mouth of a liberal!

If the congress wants to set up global warming legislation let them debate it and put their names on it! Send it to the presidents desk. Don't go around the proper role of elected government by stretches of the law again! Oh but who constantly does this?

[illavbill]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

It is not a pollutant unless it comes out of the mouth of a liberal!

If the congress wants to set up global warming legislation let them debate it and put their names on it! Send it to the presidents desk. Don't go around the proper role of elected government by stretches of the law again! Oh but who constantly does this?

Because the elected officials are doing such a good job dealing with it

[RMNIXON]

We have a new congress. They are welcome to set their priorities.

[illavbill]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

We have a new congress. They are welcome to set their priorities.

And the lawsuit wasn't just started on nov 7th.