I’ve been lauding the new Presidential administration’s approach. See “Climate of Change” and “The Eagle Has Landed” and other posts going back to November.
The new EPA has taken another critically important step: They are going to create a comprehensive, nationwide reporting system for greenhouse gases. This system is a critical component for any federal cap-and-trade regime. In their press release, EPA says “Approximately 13,000 facilities, accounting for about 85 percent to 90 percent of greenhouse gases emitted in the United States, would be covered under the proposal.” Annual reports will be issued, the first in 2011 for the calendar year 2010. Vehicle and engine manufacturers will begin reporting for model year 2011. EPA is doing this under the authority of the Clean Air Act. For more information on the proposed rule, you can go here. Here’s more on the story itself from the indispensable Gristmill.
At the same time, as reported by Think Progress, it looks as if EPA is on an express train to a finding on whether or not climate change is a threat to public health. See Leaked slides show Obama EPA is fast-tracking global warming endangerment finding.
Obama and Co. are hitting on all climate change cylinders. Now if only the Senate would let John Holdren and Jane Lubchenco get to the critically important work they’ve got to do.
