The Supreme Court’s ruling has restricted the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to curb pollution from power plants, which are responsible for roughly 30 per cent of all of America’s emissions
FP Explainers
July 01, 2022 17:18:02 IST
Climate activists, including members of Extinction Rebellion, participate in a demonstration in front of the Thurgood Marshall US Courthouse against a recent Supreme Court ruling in New York City. AFP
The United States’ fight against climate change received a major setback on Thursday when the Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have broad authority to curb planet-warming pollution from power plants.
By a majority of 6-3, the US top court declared that the Clean Air Act does not give the EPA broad authority to regulate emissions from plants that contribute to global warming.
In a statement, US president Joe Biden called the ruling yet “another devastating decision that aims to take our country backwards.”
“We cannot and will not ignore the danger to public health and existential threat the climate crisis poses.”