美国关于温室气体为“空气污染物”的争论及对我国的启示

Dispute of Whether GHGs Are Air Pollutants under Clean Air Act in America and the Implication for China

美国《清洁空气法》没有将温室气体列为空气污染物。2007年,美国最高法院就Massachusetts v EPA案做出判决,认定二氧化碳属于空气污染物,之前联邦环保署是否有权力对温室气体排放进行管制存在争议。2009年12月,美国联邦环保署根据该判决将二氧化碳和其他5种温室气体列为大气污染物,为温室气体是否是美国《清洁空气法》中的"空气污染物"画上了句号。在我国,将温室气体作为大气污染物,可以解决对温室气体排放进行管制不能当然地适用大气污染防治法的有关规定的缺陷。

Greenhouse gases are not regarded as air pollutants under the U.S. Clean Air Act. The supreme court of America judged that CO2 and other greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act in the decision of Massachusetts v EPA in 2007. However, dispute existed whether the EPA has the statutory authority to regulate greenhouse gases before 2007. In 2009, the EPA made a determination that CO2 and other five greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act according to the aforementioned decision. In China, the greenhouse gases should be seen as air pollutants so as that the regulations of air pollution prevention and control can certainly apply to the control of greenhouse gases.