An Earth Moving Decision, But Action Not Expected Soon

April 3, 2007 – Vol.12 No.2

AN EARTH-MOVING DECISION, BUT ACTION NOT EXPECTED SOON.

It’s old news by the time you read this: The US Supreme Court determined that it was OK for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, that the states have the right to sue the EPA over carbon dioxide and other global warming emissions and that the EPA has to reconsider its prior thinking on the matter.

The Court didn’t put any timeline as when the EPA should take action.

The Bush Administration has not been opposed to tackling global warming with new technologies, but it has been opposed to tackling global warming through regulation.

Will Bush suddenly change his mind and ask the EPA to begin its rethink immediately? That seems unlikely, but you never know.

A demand for immediate action by Bush, and thus the EPA, would send a message around the world that the US is now willing to take on the global warming challenge. At least on this matter, the world may begin to look at the US with softer eyes.

And, the oil producing states would get a stark message: The US, your biggest market, may not need as much of your product in the future as it needs now. This message too might warm many now anti-American, anti-Bush hearts.

Instead, however, expect foot dragging. Bush will likely let his successor put the EPA to work on its greenhouse gas regulations. So it may be a few years before nationwide greenhouse gas emission reduction regulations for vehicles become law.

We’ll be waiting, getting ready for the earth to move.