Global Warming Solutions News

Supreme Court Rebukes Bush Administration Inaction on Global Warming

Court Rules 5-4 in Landmark Decision

Concord, NH—In a landmark decision in one of the most important environmental cases ever heard by the Supreme Court, the Court ruled today that the Clean Air Act gives the U.S. EPA the authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants from cars.

“This decision is a major turning point in our nation’s fight to protect future generations from global warming.  For six years, the Bush administration has toed the oil, coal, and auto industry line on global warming,” said Virginia Robnett, Environment New Hampshire Field Associate.  “But now, we can now finally start to put the many solutions we have at our finger tips to use in fighting global warming.”

U.S. PIRG, the federal advocacy office for Environment New Hampshire, is a petitioner in the case.  

The Court ordered the U.S. EPA to reconsider its decision not to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from cars.  In the meantime, the ruling will have major implications for rules to reduce global warming pollution from cars in California and nine other states who have adopted California’s standards to reduce fleet-wide global warming emissions from new vehicles by 25 percent in model year 2009, and 30 percent in model year 2016.

While New Hampshire was not one of the original plaintiffs in the case, this is a major development for global warming advocacy efforts in the state as groups gear up for the Presidential Primary season. This ruling may be used to compell the EPA to take action on Global Warming pollution without any new laws passed by Congress. And, a new President will have more power and authority to direct the EPA to do so. 

The Carbon Coalition, a non-partisan coalition of citizens, scientists, businesses, municipalities and organizations is leading an effort to secure commitments from Presidential Primary Candidates on how they would address global warming and foster development of clean energy resources.   

“Ultimately, this ruling places higher expectations on presidential candidates coming into New Hampshire.  They can’t duck questions on global warming by calling for legislation to address CO2. They have the authority,  and New Hampshire citizens will want to hear candidates clearly explain how they will lead the nation and how they will address global warming,” said Roger Stephenson, project director for the NH Carbon Coalition. “

For a complete list of the petitioners and other documents related to the case, go to www.cleancarscampaign.org and click on “Court Action.”

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