It's A Big Day

From a press release from the EPA today: (Washington, D.C. – April 17, 2009) After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding Friday that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.

As the proposed endangerment finding states, “In both magnitude and probability, climate change is an enormous problem. The greenhouse gases that are responsible for it endanger public health and welfare within the meaning of the Clean Air Act.”

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson wisely pointed out “This pollution problem has a solution – one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country’s dependence on foreign oil.”

I think this is a huge step forward for the United States. For decades people and communities, and even cities and states, have been taking a stand against global climate change by reducing consumption, growing their own food, biking to work, composting, etc. But now that the federal agency that we look to for environmental guidance has clearly stated that climate change is happening, that humans are causing it, that it poses harm to humans, and that there is a solution - I think we will start to see some bigger and better changes.

In other news: I have created a flickr page where you can see lots of photos of my Oregon adventure. Check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/veggiedoglover