Critics challenge new federal policy on polar bears, demand steps against global warning

[babylonsister]

Critics: Polar bear plan must fight global warming

Critics challenge new federal policy on polar bears, demand steps against global warning

DAN JOLING
AP News

May 20, 2008 15:02 EST


Conservation groups returned to court to challenge Bush administration efforts to help save the polar bear, saying federal officials' refusal to include steps against global warming violates the Endangered Species Act.

In court documents filed late Friday, the Center for Biological Diversity and other groups asked a federal judge to reject Interior Department actions that were announced last week.

Polar bears are threatened with extinction in many areas because of the melting of their sea ice habitat. The groups say greenhouse gas emissions have led to rapid melting in the Arctic.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, facing a court deadline because of the groups' earlier lawsuit, had announced Wednesday that polar bears would be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Among the steps he proposed to help them were increasing research and working with Canada to help the bears survive in the wild. But he rejected the addition of broad steps to reduce greenhouse gases, saying he would not allow the Endangered Species Act to be "misused" to regulate global climate change.

more...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/05/critics_polar_bear_plan_must_f.php

[XemaSab]

1. I have to say

that as an environmental consultant in California, analyzing project impacts to polar bears would be impossible. :shrug:

Yeah, if you're extracting 3 brazilian barrels of oil, the impact is probably hugh, but if you're building a bridge, analyzing the impacts of the equipment used? Not practical.