U.S. Gives Polar Bear Protected Status

Declines In Sea Ice Cited, Though Interior Secretary Says Using Status To Reduce Greenhouse Gases "Inappropriate"

(AP)  The Interior Department declared the polar bear a threatened species Wednesday, saying it must be protected because of the decline in Arctic sea ice from global warming.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne cited dramatic declines in sea ice over the last three decades and projections of continued losses. These declines, he told a news conference, mean the polar bear is a species likely to be in danger of extinction in the near future.

Kempthorne also said, though, that it would be "inappropriate" to use the protection of the bear to reduce greenhouse gases, or to broadly address climate change.

Reflecting views recently expressed by President Bush, Kempthorne said the Endangered Species Act was "never meant to regulate global climate change."

He said the decision to list the bear includes administrative actions aimed at limiting the impact of the decision on energy development and other climate related activities.

"This listing will not stop global climate change or prevent any sea ice from melting," said Kempthorne. He said he had consulted with the White House on the decision, but "at no time was there ever a suggestion that this was not my decision."

Kempthorne cited as support for his decision conclusions by the department's scientists that sea ice loss will likely result in two-thirds of the polar bears disappearing by mid-century.

Notwithstanding the secretary's disclaimers, this is the first time the Endangered Species Act has been used to protect a species threatened by the impacts of global warming. There has been concern within the business community that such an action could have far-reaching impact and could be used to regulate carbon dioxide.

Kempthorne proposed 15 months ago to investigate whether the polar bear should be declared threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

That triggered a year of studies into the threats facing the bear and its survival prospects at a time when scientists predict a continuing warming and loss of Arctic sea ice. The Arctic sea ice serves as a primary habitat for the bear and is critical to its survival, scientists say.

"The science is absolutely clear that polar bear needs protection under the Endangered Species Act," said Andrew Wetzler, director of the endangered species program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

A decision had been expected early this year, but the Interior Department said it needed more time to work out many of the details, prompting criticism from members of Congress and environmentalists. Environmentalists filed a lawsuit aimed at forcing a decision and a federal court on April 29 set a May 15 deadline for a decision.

[al2008-2009]

I%u2019m appalled at the administration%u2019s lack of response to the global warming earthquakes, hurricanes, and cyclones, and now the icecaps which are completely melting as well. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate the effects of these quakes, cyclones, and disappearing icecaps, and mother earth continues to suffer while the administration refuses to go forward and do what%u2019s right for mother earth.
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How long must we sit idly by while our mother continues to suffer from the warming taking place at a feverish pace? How long must our mother suffer before we have proper c02 taxes put into place? How long must the destruction of mother earth take place before we finally put responsible regulations into effect? How long must we wait until we beef up our corn ethanol production? At least Obama wants to cut c02 pollution by 80%; he is definitely our best hope.
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We the people call upon our leaders to implement a comprehensive antiglobal warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these quakes, cyclones and disasters continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these quakes and storms cease. We need action now.

[pixelslinger]

"And why should our government be spending taxpayer dollars to worry about polar bears??? This sort of thing would be humorous if it weren''''t such a serious waste of money."

Here''s what''s funny - substantially more Americans feel that way about tanks.... even more about Congress. Thank goodness those idiots aren''t the ones in charge, you know what I''m saying?

[extremophil]

Couldn''t we just change their names to Tropic Bears?

[mbburch06]

And why should our government be spending taxpayer dollars to worry about polar bears??? This sort of thing would be humorous if it weren''t such a serious waste of money.

[acolton1]

Super give the Polar Bear protected Status when all the ICE on the planet is going be be melted in 100 years. Like giving the Polar Bear Protected Status changes anyting.

[ianlou]

4) Polar bears survived the last interglacial period before the last ice age, when their wasn%u2019t any ice for them to mess about on.
Time to get yourself some high school education, and stop spouting nonsense.
Posted by Seafang

The problem with this constantly repeated argument from the Rush crowd is it ignores the fact that modern man was not around "the last time this happened" If polar bears can''t hunt seal on the ice how will they adapt? Are the locals going to tolerate becoming the new meal of choice? Or do we start a new federal polar bear food drop program? Or do we say %u201COh well, there was no money to be had in polar bears anyway%u201D.

Who was around to care if Florida and Manhattan island was under water 100,000 years ago or that half of the U.S was under ice 10,000 years ago? There was still plenty of space around for primitive man and they traveled light. Try moving NYC when the streets start flooding.

Let me practice my reaction to global warming that will get me past the call-in screeners for the Rush show%u2026
%u201CWell I live in the Midwest, 900 feet above sea level so I guess I don%u2019t care.%u201D

[louiville2]

Kind of hard to find the truth these days, this article could have posted an actual satellite image but you can google them and it shows that the below is true. The age of the Gullable it''s just election year postering.

"Well, NASA says recent satellite images show that the allegedly endangered polar ice cap -- which will melt completely one of these summers and kill off all the polar bears if we don''t slash our greedy carbon footprints and revert to the lifestyles of medieval peasants -- has recovered to near normal coverage levels.

That''s what Josefino Comiso, a senior research scientist with the Cryospheric Sciences Branch of NASA''s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, told Canada''s CBC News -- the Canadian government''s version of NPR/PBS - on Feb. 12.
As far as Google''s search engine knows, Comiso''s comforting report has appeared nowhere but in Canada.

There''s even better news for polar ice-pack lovers from ice expert Gilles Langis, who says Arctic ice is now even thicker than usual in spots. A senior ice forecaster with the Canadian Ice Service in Ottawa, he''s another scientist you shouldn''t expect to see talking to Anderson Cooper on the next episode of CNN''s "Galaxy in Peril."

[ianlou]

It''s very sad, protection at this point may mean free meals at the Zoo.

[dredre2k]

Breaking News: Bush to Block the polar bear''s protection status because he believes: "It would be like giving a handout to the polar bears."

LOL Bush Blocks plenty of other sensible Policies, I wouldn''t be surprised if he blocked the polar bears too.. hahaha

[thee0racle]

...if only we could turn them into bipolar bears, they might become more outgoing and daring. Then they could be moved somewhere else so they could thrive while we drill for the oil we so desperately need. As you are pumping gas at those shocking prices, keep thinking about all those ungrateful bears