"A U.S. judge on Thursday asked the Obama administration to clarify whether polar bears are endangered, a listing that ultimately could be used to force polluters to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan asked the Interior Department for more information on whether the bears, which are losing Arctic sea ice habitat due to global warming, could be considered endangered instead of merely threatened.

The move came after environmental groups challenged a 2008 decision by the administration of President George W. Bush to list the bears as threatened, a ruling the Obama administration upheld last year.

If Interior eventually decided to list them as endangered, the bears would get full protection under federal law."

Timothy Gardner reports for Reuters November 5, 2010. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Are Polar Bears More Than Threatened?" (Dot Earth) [3]