Greenhouse Gases Pose Threat To Public Health, EPA Finds

Well we will all be saved from Climate Change now that the USA has officially accepted that the problem exists.

Now there is no reason for non-action by the major pollution producing country to curb Greenhouses Gas emisions!

ScienceDaily (Apr. 18, 2009) — After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding on April 17 that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.

The proposed finding, which now moves to a public comment period, identified six greenhouse gases that pose a potential threat. “This finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations.

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.

Tom Leonard in an article in the Telegraph writes:

America has signalled a fundamental shift in its stance on global warming with a declaration from the Obama administration that greenhouse gases are a threat to public health.

The statement issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency is expected to pave the way for new regulations of cars, power plants, building sites and factories by identifying carbon dioxide and five other gases as pollutants.

Environmental groups applauded it as a landmark decision that would allow Barack Obama to meet his call for a low carbon economy but industry groups warned that the so-called "endangerment finding" could cripple the struggling US economy.

America is the world's biggest producer of greenhouse gases but, under the Bush administration, Washington consistently downplayed the threat from global warming and stalled the EPA finding.

Environment crimes directive enters into force

The arrival of a law that makes serious and life-threatening pollution a crime.

Discharging poisonous substances into the air, dumping toxic waste and trading in protected birds or animals, come one step closer to being criminal offences across the EU today (26 December), as a law on environmental crimes comes into force.

From today the EU's 27 member states will have two years to come up with “effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal penalties” against people responsible for pollution that causes death, serious injury or major damage to the environment. Companies will be held liable for acts committed by people they employ.

Europeanvoice.com

Los Verdes Plastic Bag Motion Approved.

On the 7th August I posted the article “Plans to ban Plastic Bags for 2010 in which I reported that Los Verdes had filed a motion to be debated at the next Town Council meeting, referring to the alarming and continuous use of plastic bags, without taking into account the indications that come from almost all administrations divulging information on measures to combat climate change. We pointed out that this Council can not and must not turn it's back on the serious environmental issues.

At the Pleno (Full Town Council meeting) held on Tuesday the 16th September the Motion was presented for discussion.

Motion

• The City Council, established jointly with local businesses a campaign aimed at consumers, which has as its ultimate goal to limit the use of plastic bags to be in compliance in a phased manner to the National Waste Plan.
• Request that through the local Chamber of Commerce it will study the feasibility and economic viability of a campaign of distributing reusable bags in each and every local businesses so as to minimize the use of plastic bags coupled with the promotion of local commerce.
• That this administration claims from the Central Spanish Government and from the Provincial Government of Valencia, financial help that is availbale, to promote the use of alternatives to plastic bags.
• That details of the contents of this motion and the agreements reached are made known to the authorities and administrations cited in the proposal.

Los Verdes are very pleased to announce that the Council voted unanimously to adopt the motion in entirety as presented. This is a tremendous success in the continual steps that the party takes to ensure that the Council takes account of and acts on measures necessary to protect the environment.

We will monitor the performance of the ruling PP Council to ensure it honours it's responsibility to carry out the actions required within this approved Motion.