EPA: Greenhouse gases threaten health & environment

And just as key talks begin in Copenhagen, the US Environmental Protection Agency has delivered the ruling that greenhouse gases pose a threat not just to the environment, but also to human health.

The ruling applies to six gases many scientists say contribute to global warming, including the main culprit, carbon dioxide. The EPA ruling allows the agency to regulate greenhouse gases independently of any action from the US Congress. But the agency's decision does not pre-empt legislation. In fact, any new regulations could take a long time to implement and could face many legal challenges, giving Congress room to act.

Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator said "Today's action is step towards enduring, pragmatic solutions to the enormous challenge of climate change. It is a step toward innovation, investment and implementation of technologies that reduce harmful emissions."