Polar bears have had it rough in recent years, and global warming is only making the situation worse. That's why we joined the Center for Biological Diversity and NRDC to sue the Bush Administration and seek Endangered Species status for the polar bear. Well, after months of delaying an announcement, just long enough to sell off oil leases in polar bear habitat, the Bush Administration has finally been ordered by a judge to make a final decision by May 15th.

Polar bears are in real danger of becoming the first mammal to become extinct as a direct result of global warming. Last year, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) predicted that the world's polar bear population was likely to diminish by as much as two-thirds by 2050 - including every single polar bear within the United States. In fact, scientists predict that the Arctic could be completely ice-free in the summers as early as 2012. Listing the polar bear under the ESA would require that polar bears be protected. The only way to do that is to protect their Arctic ice habitat, which means reducing the pollution that causes global warming.

This ruling is great news for the polar bear and an important step toward protecting the entire Arctic ecosystem from the impacts of global warming.

I'll be sure to keep you posted once the decision is official.

I'll be in touch with you soon,

Melanie Duchin
Global Warming Campaigner, Alaska