EPA takes major step to battle climate change

Posted on December 15, 2009 | Filed Under: Global Warming

Will Hewes
Climate Policy Coordinator

EPA today published its endangerment finding stating that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare. The Agency announced the decision in a press conference last week and released the final version today. It’s a long awaited step that clears the way for regulation of greenhouse gases by the agency. While Congress will still work to pass comprehensive climate legislation designed to reduce the economic costs of reducing emissions, EPA’s actions provide a critical backstop if Congressional efforts fail. This will help us avoid the worst-case scenario that would, without a question, have the biggest impact on our economy: failure to do anything.

What I find interesting is the fine print of EPA’s decision explaining why they consider global warming pollution to be a threat to public health. The finding says what we’ve been stressing here for a long time: the climate change impacts on water resources will be the most damaging consequences of rising temperatures.

“The evidence concerning adverse impacts in the areas of water resources and sea level rise and coastal areas provides the clearest and strongest support for an endangerment finding, both for current and future generations.”

“Water resources across large areas of the country are at serious risk from climate change, with effects on water supplies, water quality, and adverse effects from extreme events such as floods and droughts. Even areas of the country where an increase in water flow is projected could face water resource problems from the supply and water quality problems associated with temperature increases and precipitation variability, as well as the increased risk of serious adverse effects from extreme events, such as floods and drought.”

In short, of all the areas EPA examined in putting together the finding, they concluded that the impacts on water present the greatest threat to communities across the country. While the threats they identify paint a daunting picture of the future, it’s good to know that the people in charge are finally taking these threats seriously.

Of course, it remains to be seen what the agency is going to do and how effective their actions will be. The finding itself does not require any emissions reductions, but it allows EPA to regulate global warming pollution through a series of rules. The first rule will increase fuel efficiency in light-duty vehicles. In the future, the Agency will address stationary sources of emissions such as large power producers and factories. It will likely take a long time to overcome legal challenges, implement these rules, and achieve meaningful emissions reductions.

What the rule doesn’t do is put in place any meaningful adaptation measures to help communities prepare for the climate change impacts we are already beginning to witness. This will require billions of dollars to protect Americans from floods, droughts, and other impacts due to past emissions. And we have to make sure we spend these dollars on the most flexible and cost-effective solutions that will best prepare communities for a more volatile climate.

There’s much more to do, but this is a good start.

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