In a defeat for the Bush administration, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a US government agency has the power under the clean air law to regulate greenhouse gas emissions that spur global warming.

The nation’s highest court by a 5-4 vote said the US Environmental Protection Agency “has offered no reasoned explanation” for its refusal to regulate carbon dioxide and other emissions from new cars and trucks that contribute to climate change.

Two factors are crucial to the success of any global system to reduce greenhouse gases. One is American leadership; the other is China’s full participation. Despite President Bush’s diffidence, there has been mounting pressure for the United States to assume a more aggressive role from mayors, governors, some in Congress and, lately, even the Supreme Court. And now there are some modestly encouraging signs from China.

“Speakers at the Discover Brilliant Conference in Seattle agreed that climate change will drastically affect the way the United States and western countries deal with security issues.”

Japan is proposing a new pact on climate change and hopes to create a working group that involves all countries, including China, US and those that do not support current climate plans.

At the Bali climate change conference, Canada, United States and Japan seem to have a similar message – “stressing that economic growth is just as valuable as the environment.”

The United States agreed to a new climate change deal in Bali after being the only major industrialized country not to ratify Kyoto. This turnaround is partly due to interactions with India and China and seeing their willingness to deal with climate issues.

US President Bush’s plan to sign the energy bill will present opportunities for developing the biofuels market and research into ethanol production using sources other than corn. However, ethanol production using grasses and agricultural waste is still uncertain and poses challenges ahead.

“China is glad a climate change roadmap agreed last week in Bali has drawn the United States to the negotiating table, but the world’s only superpower must do more to tackle global warming, a top official said.”

Japan, the United States and the European Union are aiming to create a new organization that would act as an advisory group for energy conservation measures.

A recent survey of 22,000 U.S. consumers, conducted by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), showed that approximately 50% considered at least one sustainability factor (organic, eco-friendly products, eco-friendly packaging and fair treatment of employees and suppliers) in their purchases of consumer packaged goods.