Polar Bears on Thin Ice

  • On the pack ice in the Beaufort Sea. There are 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears worldwide. Scientists say those numbers are declining. (Photo by Steve Amstrup, courtesy of the USFWS)

Environmental groups are trying to force the federal government to put polar bears on the
Endangered Species List. Mark Brush reports the groups not only want to protect the bears – they
also want to make the government do something about global warming:

Transcript

Environmental groups are trying to force the federal government to put polar bears on the
Endangered Species List. Mark Brush reports the groups not only want to protect the bears – they
also want to make the government do something about global warming:


Scientists say two thirds of the overall polar bear population could be lost in about 40 years.
That’s because their home – the arctic sea ice – is melting.


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was supposed to make a decision about putting the polar bear
on the Endangered Species List but it missed the deadline. So three environmental groups say
they’ll sue the government.


Andrew Wetzler is with the Natural Resources Defense Council. He says putting the polar bear on
the Endangered Species List is an important first step:


“It will protect it first from global warming itself by requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to
prepare a recovery plan. And requiring federal agencies before they issue permits that will
exacerbate global warming to mitigate their impacts under the Endangered Species Act.”


The listing could become a powerful legal tool. Once the polar bear is on the list – any industry
the government regulates that produces greenhouse gases might be affected.


For the Environment Report, I’m Mark Brush.

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