Instead of recognizing the obvious — that
global warming is fast reaching the tipping point where it becomes
irreversible (and disastrous) — the Bushites continue to keep their
heads up the tailpipes and smokestacks of the industries pumping out the
greenhouse gases that cause the unnatural warming. So we’re doomed, right? Not necessarily. While Washington foolishly fiddles,
officials at the state level have been springing into action. Unlike the
White House, state leaders are up close and personal with the effects of
global warming — ranging from declines in the production of some
crops to having to plan for rising sea levels along their coastlines. So
these officials have gotten serious about restricting the amount of carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases coming out of vehicle tailpipes, which
is the second-largest and fastest-growing source of global-warming gases. California has been in the lead and has now adopted a
rule requiring that, 10 years from now, cars and trucks there must have
technology in place reducing the emission of these gases by 30 percent. Oh,
scream the automakers — this will cause marketplace chaos, car sales
will cease, the sky will fall! The industry refuses to support any restriction on
tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide, instead rushing to court to stop the
California rule and require that only the federal government can regulate
these gases. Of course, that would maintain the status quo. One
environmental lawyer, noting that the whole world is moving to stop such
emissions, points out that by 2010, “China will have more stringent
standards than the U.S.” Meanwhile, eight states — from Connecticut to
Oregon — have also adopted the California rule. For more information,
call the Union of Concerned Scientists at 617-547-5552.
This article appears in Mar 23-29, 2006.
