After a thorough scientific review, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a finding that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.

As a result of this, on December 7, 2009, the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) Administrator signed two distinct findings regarding greenhouse gases under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act:

•Endangerment Finding: The Administrator finds that the current and projected concentrations of the six key well-mixed greenhouse gases--carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)--in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.
•Cause or Contribute Finding: The Administrator finds that the combined emissions of these well-mixed greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines contribute to the greenhouse gas pollution which threatens public health and welfare.
These findings do not themselves impose any requirements on industry or other entities. However, this action is a prerequisite to finalizing the EPA's proposed greenhouse gas emission standards for light-duty vehicles, which EPA proposed in a joint proposal including the Department of Transportation's proposed CAFE standards on September 15, 2009.


The  finding, identified greenhouse gases as posing a potential threat to human health.  This finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations. Fortunately, it follows President Obama’s call for a low carbon economy and strong leadership in Congress on clean energy and climate legislation.   Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said  “This pollution problem has a solution, one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country’s dependence on foreign oil”. 

As the endangerment finding states, In both magnitude and probability, climate change is an enormous problem.  The greenhouse gases that are responsible, endanger public health and welfare within the meaning of the Clean Air Act”
EPA’s proposed endangerment finding is based on rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific analysis of six gases carbon -  dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride that have been the subject of intensive analysis by scientists around the world. The science clearly shows that concentrations of these gases are at unprecedented levels as a result of human emissions, and these high levels are very likely the cause of the increase in average temperatures and other changes in our climate.

The scientific analysis also confirms that climate change impacts human health in several ways. Findings from a recent EPA study titled  “Assessment of the Impacts of Global Change on Regional U.S. Air Quality: A Synthesis of Climate Change Impacts on Ground-Level Ozone,” for example, suggest that climate change may lead to higher concentrations of ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant. Additional impacts of climate change include, but are not limited to:

* increased drought;
* more heavy downpours and flooding;
* more frequent and intense heat waves and wildfires;
* greater sea level rise;
* more intense storms; and
* harm to water resources, agriculture, wildlife and ecosystems.

In the finding, the EPA also took into account the disproportionate impact climate change has on the health of certain segments of the population, such as the poor, the very young, the elderly, those already in poor health, the disabled, those living alone and/or indigenous populations dependent on one or a few resources.

In addition to threatening human health, the analysis finds that climate change also has serious national security implications. Consistent with this proposed finding, in 2007, 11 retired U.S. generals and admirals signed a report from the Center for Naval Analyses stating that climate change “presents significant national security challenges for the United States.”  Escalating violence in destabilized regions can be incited and fomented by an increasing scarcity of resources - including water.  This lack of resources, driven by climate change patterns, then drives massive migration to more stabilized regions of the world.

President Obama and Administrator Jackson have repeatedly indicated their preference for comprehensive legislation to address this issue and create the framework for a clean energy economy. More information is available at: http://epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment.html

News from the EPA!