Why the EPA Did an End-Run on Climate Change

By Heather Horn on December 08, 2009

On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency declared greenhouse gases a danger to human health, giving the agency power to cut emissions without Congressional approval. The move sends a bold signal before Obama's trip to Copenhagen, frustrating conservatives and business leaders. What is the strategy behind the announcement, and will it work?

Why They Did It
Because It's What the EPA Is There For Progressives at Think Progress Brad Johnson and Matthew Yglesias say that this is about the EPA "recognizing" and "meeting its legal obligations" to restrict threats to the environment under the Clean Air Act.

Because It Will Force a Cap-and-Trade Bill Liberal Mother Jones blogger Kevin Drum outlines the carrot-and-stick proposition: "the longer that congressional Republican dawdle and obstruct, the more likely it is that the EPA will end up doing something by default. So here's some advice for corporate America: if you don't like this, then get off your asses and start pressuring your friends in the GOP to support a cap-and-trade bill that would preempt the EPA and put in place more predictable rules."

Because It Will Help at Copenhagen The Washington Independent's Aaron Wiener acknowledges the EPA's traditional role as a prod to Congress, but says that "the timing of today's announcement suggests another motivation." Namely, "international climate talks in Copenhagen kicked off this morning, and in the absence of a domestic climate bill, the EPA move gives American negotiators evidence of U.S. action on climate change as they seek commitments from other nations around the world." The New Republic's Bradford Plumer concurs.

See the rest here.