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Oregon Territory

December 1, 2006 — Carbon Dioxide

part one part two

download links: part one | part two

Though CO2 occurs naturally on earth, humans also create carbon dioxide when they burn fossil fuels. Factories, automobiles, even home furnaces emit CO2 into the atmosphere.

But too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can trap heat and lead to big-and sometimes harmful — changes in the climate.

That's why the state of Massachusetts and 11 other states, including Oregon, asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency to regulate CO2 in auto emissions.

The EPA refused and the case ended up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court this week.

We're exploring that case this week on Oregon Territory and also taking a look at how climate change could impact human health in the Northwest.

Host: Christy George

Guest: Craig Johnston, professor at Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College; and Jeff Shaman, assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at OSU.

PDF: 10,000 EPA staffers ask Congress to regulate carbon dioxide

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