The Polar Bears Are Just the Beginning

Many of us decried the listing of polar bears on the "threatened" list because: 1. It wasn't necessary; and 2. it would be used as an excuse to stop all kinds of development. Number 2 is coming to pass:

The group that spearheaded the successful effort to have polar bears listed as a threatened species has a blueprint for further action that could create ripples throughout the U.S. economy.

The Arizona Daily Star reports the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity wants to use the polar bear designation as a springboard to challenge offshore oil and gas leasing in Alaska, launch challenges to the licensing of coal-fired power plants all across the U.S. and oppose local government development plans in major cities.

How can they do this?

The endangered species act requires that all actions carried out by federal agencies be considered in light of their ramifications for habitat of threatened animals.

Meanwhile, Alaska Republican Governor Sarah Palin says she will sue to block the Bush administration from listing the polar bears as threatened. Palin points out that the bear population has dramatically increased over the past 30 years because of conservation.

Any construction or development that might possibly increase CO2 output will be challenged on the basis that additional CO2 will further endanger the polar bears and must therefore be stopped under the Endangered Species Act. Just watch.