The status of species throughout the world has been an issue for a very long time. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 began to address the issues that were plaguing the wildlife of the world. Today, one of the main animals being discussed is the polar bear. This species is of particular interest at this moment because its habitat is diminishing because of the global issue known as global warming. Because the polar bear is a species that lives in Arctic climates, their habitat is becoming less and less as the temperatures of the world continue to increase due to the pollution each country puts into the environment.
The polar bear was put on the “threatened” species list during the last few weeks of the Bush administration in May of 2008, meaning that the species is at high risk at becoming endangered if the threats to it as a species are not resolved. However, many people are skeptical if this will do much because Secretary Kempthorne imposed rule 4(d) to ensure the listing would not require new efforts to tackle global warming or put new restrictions on oil and gas development in polar bear habitat. The Obama administration decided to retain the ruling from the previous administration in May of 2009. Secretary Salazar stated that it was not possible to regulate greenhouse gas emission under the ESA. The Interior Department will have to defend its position in court, and there are already many legal challenges made to rule 4 (d).
The problem with the ruling by both administrations is that solely placing the polar bear on the list of “threatened” species will not do anything to ensure its survival. The polar bear was the first animal to be put on the list because of global warming and also the first species to be given protected status based not on population issue, but speculative climate threats. It was very difficult to get the polar bear placed as “threatened” at first because administrations knew that it meant the issue of global warming would have to be addressed as well. If the current administration will not address the cause of the polar bears diminishing numbers than nothing can be done to fix the issue. Also, this is not solely a problem for the polar bear, the entire world is affected by global warming and other species will become threatened because of it without a doubt.
Does the endangered species list really even matter anymore if we refuse to address global warming? Personally, I feel that the original intent of the endangered species act was to solely protect animals from harm by humans. But if we refuse to protect animals like the polar bear from global warming, the largest of all human caused problems in the animal kingdom, arent we voiding the sole concept that defines the endangered species act is.....
ReplyDeleteI second evan. And I love polar bears. But seriously, I hope the legal challenges to rule 4 come through because why have put an animal in an endangered list if they are not going to put restrictions on the exact problem that is threatening the polar bears? As you said, the administration needs to step up and STAND up to the big oil and gas companies.
ReplyDeleteThe Endangered Species Act was formed to protect animals from becoming extinct due to human activity, as mentioned earlier. I personally cannot come to a conclusion that humans are the reason for the polar bears dwindling numbers. I do believe in global warming, but is it due to human activity? The earth has a history of warming an cooling, ice ages and tropical environments, and most of the worlds history has been without human occupation. The earth without humans has changed dramatically, so how can we be so sure that GHG emissions are the link to the polar bears demise?
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