Federal Court Ruling Forces Action on Polar Bear. By Andrew C. Revkin, NYTimes, April 29, 2008. "Environmental groups just cheered a federal court ruling today that forces the Bush administration to decide by mid-May whether polar bears deserve protection under the Endangered Species Act because of Arctic impacts from the warming climate... 'Today's decision is a huge victory for the polar bear,' said Kassie Siegel... [of] the Center for Biological Diversity and lead author of the 2005 petition... seeking protection under the endangered species law. 'By May 15th the polar bear should receive the protections it deserves.' According to a news release from the Natural Resources Defense Council, which joined in the suit, the court rejected a request by the Interior Department for more time, saying: 'Defendants offer no specific facts that would justify the existing delay, much less further delay. To allow Defendants more time would violate the mandated listing deadlines under the ESA and congressional intent that time is of the essence in listing threatened species.' This is classic American environmental action, seeking leverage in existing laws to force governments to move on newly identified problems... Do you think this approach can work in the long run on an issue like climate change?"
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