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Published online 11 July 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.952
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US court slaps down pollution law
Major clean-air programme is now in limbo.
A US appeals court struck down landmark air-pollution regulations on Friday, shocking both environmental and industry groups with a decision that could severely hamper efforts to curb smog and acid rain.
The ruling, which one environmentalist called “the legal equivalent of a dirty bomb,” threatened to overshadow a separate decision Friday by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to delay potential regulations for carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act.
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re: Articl: "Court overrules ... " Time is running out for action on the climate. We've dithered through the current administration's inactions and are facing catastrophic consequences for our hubris, hubris to believe that we, as a species, are incapable of eradicating ourselves and every-other-living-thing along with us. It seems we've convinced ourselves we're 'Not of Nature' (ex-natura in the Greek)? Which cultures and silly theologies trumpet with impunity. Unfortunately we are not and are no different than any or every other living thing, past or present, though our determination to destroy ourselves and everything else appears to be unique, so the expalnation for this self/mass-destruction must be that it is written into our genetic code or why else would we be so Goddamned suicidal? Thank you. richard gaul e-mail good! tarzan
This article has a bad headline. No law was overtunred, but instead a RULE was, on the basis that it was not permitted by the law under which it was promulgated. I for one hope that Congress will act quickly to fix this problem, and include carbon dioxide emissions as something that can be capped and traded.
The fundamental problem with the Acid Rain program is that it provides no incentive for over-compliance, even when the return on investment for additional emission reductions (in terms of health and environmental benefits) is well over 1000%. If its cap-and-trade system had been implemented with a price floor commensurate with original price expectations, the program could have achieved its goals much sooner and without the need for supplemental regulations like CAIR [http://ssrn.com/abstract=1154638].
The Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), a programme designed to reduce East Coast air pollution was a good step to reduce air pollution but it seems the power has taken a toll all over again. Rather than fighting on who can handle the issue in a better way, its need of the hour to unite and protect the environment we live in. The monitoring of Carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles is a tough job in itself and need review by the court itself. How can one be ridiculous about the environment...its time we fight global warming rather than with our laws which does nothing but create ruckus amongst each other