It seems that the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) wants us all to quit worrying about climate change because ... yes, carbon dioxide is good for us!

They've created an ad that is running in 16 major media markets with the tag line "Carbon Dioxide, they call it pollution - we call it life." Well, cough syrup is good for us too, but it all comes down to quantity doesn't it? It's silly even arguing . Click on the video caption below to see the video. It's worth a good laugh ... or cry.



Here's all you need to know about CEI. Exxon Mobil Corporation is a "major donor" to CEI, with over $1.6 million in contributions between 1998 and 2005. In 2004 the company gave CEI $180,000 that was earmarked for "global climate change and global climate change outreach." CEI also gets funding from other oil companies through the American Petroleum Institute.

CEI and others are trying to lay the groundwork and argue that CO2 is not a "pollutant" under the Clean Air Act, and therefore, cannot and should not be regulated. This line of argument is truly a red-herring. Here's a link to a legal decision from the EPA stating clearly that they interpret the EPA as having the authority to regulate CO2 as a pollutant under the Clean Air ACT.

"While CO2, as an air pollutant, is within EPA’s scope of authority to regulate, the Administrator has not yet determined that CO2 meets the criteria for regulation under one or more provisions of the Act."

So, all we need now is for the Bush appointed Administrator, Stephen Johnson, to act. We're holding our breath...