Polar Bear Ruling: Nobody’s Happy

Science Correspondent Ned Potter blogs: Interior Secretary Kempthorne has now ruled to give polar bears “threatened” status. But it’s clear that nobody — not he, not environmentalists, not conservative groups that oppose the environmentalists — is pleased with the decision. If you haven’t seen our piece, it’s HERE. A few extra quotes: Secretary Kempthorne: “While the legal standards under the ESA compel me to list the polar bear as threatened, I want to make clear that this listing will not stop global climate change or prevent any sea ice from melting. Any real solution requires action by all major economies for it to be effective. That is why I am taking administrative and regulatory action to make certain the ESA isn’t abused to make global warming policies.” John Kostyack of the National Wildlife Federation: “They said that they can’t say any single coal plant or any other polluter is responsible for the decline of sea ice. And that’s simply incorrect. Continue reading on Ned’s Science and Society blog.