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 20 July 2008 18:23 BST

US adds polar bear to threatened species list

Thursday, 15 May 2008 12:53
Loss of sea ice threatens polar bears' habitat
Polar bears have been added to the threatened species list under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the US.

The decision follows concerns about shrinking ice in the Arctic due to climate change.

A statement from the US department of the interior said the decision is based on "the best available science".

It claims this science shows that "loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar bear habitat".

"While the legal standards under the ESA compel me to list the polar bear as threatened, I want to make clear that this listing will not stop global climate change or prevent any sea ice from melting," secretary of the interior Dirk Kempthorne said.

"Any real solution requires action by all major economies for it to be effective. That is why I am taking administrative and regulatory action to make certain the ESA isn't abused to make global warming policies."

The interior department will monitor polar bear populations and trends; study polar bear feeding ecology; and work cooperatively with the Alaska Nanuuq Commission and the North Slope Borough for co-management of the polar bears in Alaska.

It will also the effects of oil and gas operations in the Beaufort Sea region.

Environmental campaigners have welcomed the extra protection for polar bears.

"Today's decision by Secretary Kempthorne is a step in the right direction," said Cathy Zoi, chief executive of the Alliance for Climate Protection.

"The scientific community believes the polar bear needs protection, and so do the American people, who have been calling for this action in large numbers.

"While this step is encouraging, solving the climate crisis will require bold leadership that truly acknowledges the urgency of the problem."
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