Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced today his decision to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA protects vulnerable species with two classifications: endangered, meaning the species is in danger of extinction, or threatened, in that the species is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.
Kempthorne said that three findings contributed to this announcement of listing the polar bear as a threatened species. The first is that polar bears need sea ice to survive, the second is that sea ice is receding, and the third is that sea ice is going to recede in the future. He said last year sea ice was at its lowest level ever recorded, and that scientific models project both a decline in sea ice and a decline in polar bear population.
Kempthorne said that the ESA is one of the least flexible laws Congress has ever enacted, and that it prevents him as secretary from “taking into account economic conditions and adverse consequences” when making listing decisions. He said the threat to polar bears comes from the effect of global influences on sea ice, but that this listing will not stop global change or prevent the melting of sea ice. He said any real solution will require action “by all major economies for it to be effective.” He explains that this is why he is taking “administrative and regulative action to make sure ESA isn’t abused to make global warming policies.”
Polar bear officially a threatened species
Kempthorne said that three findings contributed to this announcement of listing the polar bear as a threatened species. The first is that polar bears need sea ice to survive, the second is that sea ice is receding, and the third is that sea ice is going to recede in the future. He said last year sea ice was at its lowest level ever recorded, and that scientific models project both a decline in sea ice and a decline in polar bear population.
Kempthorne said that the ESA is one of the least flexible laws Congress has ever enacted, and that it prevents him as secretary from “taking into account economic conditions and adverse consequences” when making listing decisions. He said the threat to polar bears comes from the effect of global influences on sea ice, but that this listing will not stop global change or prevent the melting of sea ice. He said any real solution will require action “by all major economies for it to be effective.” He explains that this is why he is taking “administrative and regulative action to make sure ESA isn’t abused to make global warming policies.”