US Declares Greenhouse Gasses to be Dangerous: Thoughts?

[Jerious1154]

Earlier today the US Environmental Protection Agency put out a document saying, for the first time, that greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide are harmful to public welfare. This opens the door for the US to begin formally regulating emissions for the first time. I know there have been other threads about global warming in the past, but I want to know what the international community of Escapists think about this specific decision by the United States to finally get on the global warming bandwagon.
Here's a link to the New York Times news article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/science/earth/18endanger.html?_r=1&hp

 

[Pimppeter2]

Gay guy in Family guy voice:

OHHH NOOOO

 

[asinann]

It's going to be part of the stimulus for the auto companies.
First older cars are outlawed for putting out too many greenhouse gasses, then everyone buys a new car so they can keep driving.

 

[Nossy]

Sooooo, I should stop breathing?

 

[Internet Kraken]

Great. Now people will start thinking "I don't need to worry about pollution. The GOVERNMENT will take care of that."

Whether or not global warming is real doesn't matter. Having your car guzzle down unnecessary gallons of gas a day is still destructive.

 

[Dark42]

Wow, so the United States is almost up to date with the rest of the world. Maeby next they will finally admit the Earth is round.

 

[RagnorakTres]

Boy, next my government will discover that water is wet! Or that teenagers' brains work differently from adults'!

This is why a benign dictatorship is the most efficient form of government. the dictator says "Greenhouse gases are harmful. Buy new cars that don't emit as many of them." you better hop to, in case he decides to stop being benign. Not saying it's the best (read: most fair and just) form of government, just the most efficient. One man comes to a decision a lot faster than a million.

 

[Jerious1154]

Sooooo, I should stop breathing?

The regulation that's going to come from this is going to be directed mostly at power-plants and car companies.
But it would be an interesting experiment to see if it would make any sort of difference if everyone in the entire world held their breath for one minute.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

Sooooo, I should stop breathing?

Don't human breath out CO2? Omg, were the biggest polluter!

 

[Jackson - Deathclaw]

in three words:
no shit sherlock

 

[Frizzle]

One thing I read in that article: The buying and trading of "credits" for emissions doesn't really make sense... The same amount of gasses are being produced, but they are just being produced by different companies. Some companies can make money by selling the credits, but the total impact isn't really being reduced. Am I missing something?

 

[Yrael]

Hmmm really it isn't that much of a problem, although i know a have a good change of getting Cheesed for saying this but currently seeing the tech which is ready to be put into production but requires five years of testing to be certified, it really dosen't worry me as much. Secondarily the thing about destrying the planet as a corporate overlord is that you are destroying all of it including the bit you are standing on, therefore backup plans are in the wings unless they are complete nitwits. However humanity seems to hate change. Stuff like this has happened before with negiligble effect in the total scheme of things and while people sy this is artificial, not natural, to be honest i think that the enivroment has endured meteor strikes, continental changes, radiation exposure from colliding astral bodies and a hell'va lot more.

We'll be fine.

 

[Motti]

We'll be fine.

What he said.
It's not that global warming isn't a problem, it's just not the end of the world. You simply have to look at the literal origins of species to realise just how bloodyminded life can be. Life won't end, it'll just get more the same as the species that can't stand the heat die.

 

[Abedeus]

HOLY CRAP NO WAY!!!


Anything that the US says makes me laugh.

 

[InProgress]

Capt obvious strikes again!

 

[Skeleon]

It's good they'll finally be able to put some pressure on the car companies and bigger factories.

 

[bodyklok]

in three words:
no shit sherlock

This

"Took them long enough."

that one.

And this.