Supreme Court Affirms EPA's Power To Reduce Climate Change Pollution

Justices deny lawsuit against power plants by holding that EPA has authority to set limits

Contacts

Liz Judge, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500, ext 237

Today, in rejecting a climate change pollution lawsuit, the Supreme Court of the United States reaffirmed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to curb climate change pollution under the Clean Air Act, as first established in the 2007 Supreme Court case Massachusetts v. EPA. Earthjustice was co-counsel in the 2007 case, and is now intervening in defense of limits on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, which the EPA adopted in the wake of that case.

The following is a statement from Earthjustice managing attorney David Baron:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision highlights how crucial it is for EPA to set strong national limits on climate change pollution from power plants and other large industrial plants.

“The Court held that Congress has designated EPA ‘as best suited to serve as primary regulator of greenhouse gas emissions.’

“This decision clearly puts the ball in the Obama administration’s court to move forward on reining in climate change pollution without delay.”

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