As expected, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to deem greenhouse gases a public threat. Today, EPA unveiled its endangerment finding for the six gases culpable in causing climate change.

The notice is only a proposed rule and will be subject to a 60-day comment period upon publication in the Federal Register. But EPA’s announcement has the feel of formality. EPA’s accompanying scientific assessment is fully baked, and the agency is unlikely to deviate from the notice.

So today, for the first time, it is the official viewpoint of the U.S. government that we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to combat the effects of global climate change.

We’ll have more on this next week. Meanwhile, Click here for EPA’s press release and links to more information about the endangerment finding.

Image by Flickr user cambodia4kidsorg, used under a Creative Commons license.