US to Regulate CO2, Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Obama administration announced on April 17th that it was set to regulate US emissions of CO2, hot on the heels of it being classified – along with five additional greenhouse gases – as potentially damaging to human health.

CO2 aside, the other five gases were hydrofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride – all of which are covered by the Kyoto Protocol.

The announcement represented a major u-turn from the President Bush era, during which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contested that, since CO2 was not considered a pollutant, regulation of it could not take place.

CO2 is released as a result of many different activities, fossil-fuel burning among them.

Carbon Emission Regulation

A number of developing nations have called on the US to lead the way on carbon emission regulation, being unwilling to put their own measures in place until such leadership is evident.  In its wake, the CO2 announcement was viewed as a powerful statement of intent from the US as regards fighting the climate change war.

The agency highlighted in a report how “greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations”, adding that human activities were fuelling the pace of global warming.

The volume of atmospheric greenhouse gases, it said, was “the unambiguous result of human emissions, and...very likely the cause of the observed increase in average temperatures and other climatic changes.”

“This finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations”, Administrator at the agency, Lisa Jackson, stated.

“Fortunately, it follows President Obama's call for a low carbon economy and strong leadership in Congress on clean energy and climate legislation.”

“The president has made clear his strong preference that Congress act to pass comprehensive legislation rather than address the climate challenge through administrative action”, a representative from the White House added.

Reducing CO2 Output

CO2 emission regulation will not begin immediately, rather, there will now be a two-month period for comment.  However, right now, legislation focusing on reducing CO2 output through imposing a cap and trade scheme is gaining momentum.

“At long last, EPA is officially recognizing that carbon pollution is leading to killer heat waves, stronger hurricanes, higher smog levels and many other threats to human health”, the Natural Resources Defense Council’s David Doniger commented.

Others, however, were less positive about the news.  "This proposal will cost jobs”, John Engler, the President of the National Association of Manufacturers, stated. 

“It is the worst possible time to be proposing rules that will drive up the cost of energy to no valid purpose”.