This is huge:
Breaking: Supreme Court rules in global warming case | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist
Do states and environmental groups have standing to sue EPA?
Verdict: Yes.
Does the EPA have the right to regulate CO2 emissions as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act?
Verdict: Yes.
Can the EPA choose not to regulate CO2 emissions at its own discretion?
Verdict: The court told EPA to … reconsider its claim that it has that discretion. Said majority opinion writer Justice John Paul Stevens: “EPA has offered no reasoned explanation for its refusal to decide whether greenhouse gases cause or contribute to climate change.” The court also offered EPA a laundry list of reasons why it should so regulate. In effect, the court put enormous pressure on EPA to regulate.
Continue here. We might see some big changes within the year.
As someone who works for a large DC-based environmental org I want to underscore that this is a HUGE win that we should all celebrate! The court’s decision establishes the ability of the next President (and the responsibility of the current Administration — but don’t hold your breath on that one) to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. It also provides an initial legal victory to help secure the California tailpipe standards for greenhouse gases that have been adopted by a dozen states, but face legal challenges from car manufacturers. Woo hoo!
“John Paul Stevens has made his decision; let him enforce it now if he can.”
– President George W. Bush
Well, cynicisim aside, this is at the very least a big symbolic win, and hopefully something concrete will come out of it!