A few months ago I spoke at a KC Spiritual Education Evening about global warming. I talked a little about my recent experience as member of a group of scientists who'd written a brief in support of a lawsuit by several states petitioning the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants. Today the climate science community got some important news: the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the EPA, in turning the petition did not adequately consider the relevant science. Writing for the majority, justice Stevens said:
"In short, EPA has offered no reasoned explanation for its refusal to decide whether greenhouse gases cause or contribute to climate change. Its action was therefore ìarbitrary, capricious, . . . or otherwise not in accordance with law."

If you'd like to read the decision, it's available at the Supreme Court website. Justices Roberts and Scalia wrote dissenting opinions, the vote was 5-4. While it would have been nice to get a few more votes, I think this is a victory for transparency in government. It will be very interesting to see how the EPA handles the ruling.