News

Supreme Court Curtails EPA’s Ability To Fight Climate Change, In Latest Far-Right Move

The Supreme Court reduced the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from powerplants in a 6-3 ruling on Thursday morning.

“Capping carbon dioxide emissions at a level that will force a nationwide transition away from the use of coal to generate electricity may be a sensible ‘solution to the crisis of the day, but it is not plausible that Congress gave EPA the authority to adopt on its own such a regulatory scheme,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.

“A decision of such magnitude and consequence rests with Congress itself, or an agency acting pursuant to a clear delegation from that representative body,” he added.

He made it clear that the court does not interpret the Clean Air Act to provide the EPA that authority without congressional support.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

In a separate opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch emphasized the importance of allowing people’s voices to be heard through representatives to vote on the laws they want to abide by.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote a dissent for the court’s three Democrats, raising the issue of global warming and critiquing her colleagues.

“The Court appoints itself—instead of Congress or the expert agency—the decisionmaker on climate policy,” she wrote. “I cannot think of many things more frightening.”

The ruling throws in a major obstacle to President Joe Biden‘s goals of cutting America’s greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade in an effort to curb global warming.

It will also greatly affect any agency action that comes without authorization from Congress.

Rose Carter

Recent Posts

VIDEO: Anti-Trump Protesters Outside Pennsylvania State Capitol On Presidents Day Chant ‘No Kings’

https://youtu.be/mFMbio1bNHc Protesters gathered outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol on Monday, as part of a nationwide…

7 hours ago

After Outcry, State Department Drops Plans To Buy $400 Million Of Tesla Armored Electric Vehicles

The U.S. Department of State had been in discussions with Tesla, Elon Musk’s electric vehicle…

8 hours ago

Linda McMahon Refuses To Say If Black History Courses Will Be Allowed Under Trump Administration

During Linda McMahon's Senate confirmation hearing, the former WWE executive refused to answer whether black…

9 hours ago

After Mitch McConnell Votes Against Trump’s Cabinet Nominees, Trump Calls Him Mentally Unequipped, Says He ‘Doesn’t Know’ If He Had Polio

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) voted against President Donald Trump’s nominations for three crucial Cabinet votes:…

9 hours ago

Trump Alarms Critics Using Napoleon Quote, Suggesting He’s Above The Law

On Saturday, President Donald Trump posted the quote, “He who saves his Country does not…

13 hours ago

VIDEO: Trump Laps NASCAR Track In Presidential Limousine ‘The Beast’

https://youtu.be/gOemN_dAIhw President Donald Trump appeared at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, doing a lap around the track…

1 day ago