US EPA Refuses to Stall Action on Climate Change

By declining to revisit the endangerment finding, Administrator Jackson and the EPA have sent the message that evidence cited by climate science deniers is unconvincing. Rather than displaying healthy scientific skepticism and an openness to all available data, petitioners relied on the now-discredited"Climategate" media stunt and statistics taken out of context to supposedly refute the science of climate change. Petitioners joined hands with conspiracy theorists who assert the idea of climate change is part of a plot concocted by scientists intent on subverting society.

In the words of Administrator Jackson: "The endangerment finding is based on years of science from the U.S. and around the world. These petitions—based as they are on selectively edited, out-of-context data and a manufactured controversy—provide no evidence to undermine our determination." The EPA's endangerment finding has taken on new importance in the wake of the US Senate's failure to pass a climate bill this year.  In the absence of new climate legislation, the EPA could use the existing Clean Air Act to curb the causes of climate change and put new regulations on utilities and industry. The EPA is currently scheduled to start phasing in regulations for carbon emissions next year. The fossil fuel industries and their supporters in Congress will doubtless continue attempts to limit EPA authority. But for now it looks as if some form of regulation on the causes of climate change will kick in during early 2011.

Administrator Jackson should be commended for refusing to bow to industry pressure, and defending the overwhelming scientific evidence for climate change. It's now the job of the EPA to follow through and take decisive steps to cut back carbon emissions from across the economy. This may be the most important job the agency ever takes on.

Photo credit: Carrotmadman6 on Flickr