TOP STORY

EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases a Threat to Public Health

In a long-anticipated announcement, the Environmental Protection Agency has determined that greenhouse gases "pose a danger to the public's health and welfare, a move that could trigger a series of federal regulations affecting polluters from vehicles to coal-fired power plants."  This "endangerment" finding "is likely to intensify pressure on Congress to pass legislation that would limit greenhouse gases, as President Obama, many lawmakers and some industry leaders prefer."  [Washington Post]

SPECIAL NRDC LIVE CHAT: Join David Doniger for a live online discussion about the EPA's endangerment determination on Monday, April 20, at 1 p.m. Eastern  on NRDC's Switchboard blog. You can submit questions in advance via the Comments on this post.

Related:

• Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under the Clean Air Act [EPA]
• How to submit a written comment to the EPA about this finding and where public hearings will take place.  [Grist] 
• Terms of Endangerment: EPA to Cut Global Warming Pollution [Switchboard]
• Listen: EPA Moves Toward Regulating Greenhouse Gases. [NPR]
• EPA says greenhouse-gas emissions a threat to public health. [Grist]

 ART

Gyre, by Chris Jordan, 2009.  "The 11-foot-wide (3.4-meter-wide) digital collage of photos shows 2.4 million pieces of plastic--equivalent in pounds to the amount of plastic trash that enters the oceans every hour." [National Geographic]

RECOMMENDED READING

Drugs Taint U.S. Water Supply

The U.S. pharaceutical industry has "legally released at least 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals into waterways that often provide drinking water."  Last year, it was revealed that "trace amounts of a wide range of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in American drinking water supplies." The pharmaceutical industry has maintained that their manufacturing doesn't contribute to what's being found in water, but this new AP investigation implies otherwise.   [Associated Press-Yahoo]

Unsung Environmental Heroes Win Goldman Prize

Seven environmental advocates and activists from six continents have been honored with the Goldman Prize, described as "the Nobel Prize for grassroots environmentalism"  Goldman Prize organizers described the winners as "a group of fearless grassroots leaders, taking on government and corporate interests and working to improve the environment for people in their communities."   [BBC]

Related:

• Richard Goldman discusses what world leaders could learn from the grassroots activism practiced by the winners of his family's award.  [BBC]

"The National Parks: America's Best Idea"

Ken Burns talks about his 12-hour documentary on America's National Park system.  [Seattle Times]

FROM THE BLOGS

The Climate Bill's Giant Carbon Polluter Loophole [Solve Climate]