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ARTICLE · 07 JULY 2009

Can Greenhouse Gases Be Regulated Effectively Under Existing Law?

Jones Day
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President Obama has touted quick action against climate change as a major goal of his administration. Perhaps recognizing that a new law will take time (and motivation), the administration is now showing signs of pursuing its goal through the existing Clean Air Act (the "Act").

United StatesEnvironment
Casey Fernung
Casey Fernung
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President Obama has touted quick action against climate change as a major goal of his administration. Perhaps recognizing that a new law will take time (and motivation), the administration is now showing signs of pursuing its goal through the existing Clean Air Act (the "Act"). 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et seq. Administrator-designate of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") Lisa Jackson told senators at a hearing on January 14, 2009, to expect "an extraordinary burst of activity" on climate change and other problems. When asked specifically about her willingness to regulate new problems under existing laws, Jackson responded that those laws "were meant to address not only the issues of today, but the issues of tomorrow."1

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