A federal judge today ordered the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to take action on polar bears by May 15. USFWS had previously indicated that it may list the bears as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, a move that would have far-ranging consequences for oil and gas companies and may force to the U.S. government to further curb carbon emissions. Polar bears have shown a precipitous decline in numbers over recent years, a trend in part attributed to melting ice floes caused by global warming.
For more on organizations that support the listing of polar bears, check out the Center for Biological Diversity and the International Union of Conservation for Nature’s Red List, which lists polar bears as “vulnerable”.
