Man pleads not guilty to first in the nation greenhouse gas smuggling… - WORLD News Group
Man pleads not guilty to first in the nation greenhouse gas… | WORLD
Man pleads not guilty to first in the nation greenhouse gas smuggling charges
The U.S. Department of Justice logo Associated Press/Photo by Patrick Semansky, file
Michael Hart, a 58-year-old San Diego resident, on Monday pleaded not guilty to charges that he smuggled refrigerants into the United States and sold them for profit. The Justice Department on Monday said it had brought 13 charges against Hart.
That’s illegal? The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 prohibits bringing hydrofluorocarbons into the United States without proper authorization. Hydrofluorocarbons are commonly used as refrigerants but are a potent greenhouse gas that can harm the environment, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
How did Hart allegedly do this? Hart allegedly purchased units of hydrofluorocarbons in Mexico and then snuck them into the United States by hiding them in his vehicle under tools and a tarp. He then sold them on sites like OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace.
What happens now? Hart is scheduled to make his next appearance in court on March 25, 2024. That hearing will focus on any motions brought by either side and will attempt to set a start date for his trial. If convicted, Hart could face decades behind bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
Dig deeper: Read Ericka Anderson’s column in WORLD Opinions about young environmentalists falling into despair.
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Related Knowledge Center: Climate economics
Climate change is now a driver of the world’s economy. The impact is profound:
- Catastrophic weather events — hurricanes, floods, droughts, high temperatures — are more frequent and more extreme. The cost can be measured in both the initial damage caused and the longer-term impact on the economy.
- Vulnerable communities are increasing climate-related investments, hardening infrastructure and taking other protective measures.
- Investment in carbon capture and storage technologies is increasingly rapidly.
- Governments are making investments and crafting regulations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
On top of all of this is the cost of uncertainty. As the Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in 2018 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, says, “The assumption that current and future climate conditions will resemble the recent past is no longer valid.”