What Does the SCOTUS Climate Ruling Mean?

On Thursday June 30, 2022 the Supreme Court gutted the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate climate pollution. 

TL;DR: This makes it very difficult for the federal government to protect the public’s health and the health of our planet. Make sure your voter registration is verified since it is now more important than EVER to participate in local elections for the health of our planet!  

This SCOTUS environmental ruling sharply curtails the EPA’s power to curb emission of greenhouse gases in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. This is a blow to U.S. goals for moving to clean energy by 2035 and making the entire economy carbon-neutral by 2050. By not meeting these targets to combat climate change, we can expect higher sea levels, eroding beaches and communities, more devastating wildfires, and many other consequences that largely impact low-income people and people of color worldwide.

Similar to other landmark SCOTUS rulings released over the past few weeks, this has been decades in the making. In the lawsuit, coal companies argued that the EPA and government agencies should not set rules that could impact the economy, but instead, Congress should make those rules. However, we have little faith that Congress will address the issue of climate change as they have failed to do so to date.  

The decision doesn’t just affect climate change. It also could also hinder other agencies’ - like the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), Department of Education, SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), etc. - regulatory efforts, from food safety to transportation to financial fraud. 

This ruling means that state and local governments will now shoulder most of the burden of enacting environmental protections to make a difference on climate change and protect the health of citizens. In fact, some states’ elected officials are already passing very significant policies to cut carbon emissions, grow clean energy jobs, and address racial and economic injustices. Make sure the politicians in your state are ready to pass climate legislation as well. If not, vote for those who will. 

It is more important than ever to participate in local elections and vote for those who will work to improve the health of your community. Make sure your voter registration is verified and if you’re not registered to vote yet, you can register online right now! While states have more responsibility, Congress has the power to pass environmental regulations, so it is more important than ever to vote for representatives who will help turn the tide on climate change and work to ensure this planet is a safe home for generations to come.