Even though Donald Trump was not elected to the presidency of the United States, his legacy is remarkable. The extremely conservative Supreme Court of the United States restricted this Thursday, June 30, the federal state’s ability to combat greenhouse gases. This could have a significant impact on global warming.
The six conservative judges ruled that, contrary to the advice of three of their progressive counterparts, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), could not enact general rules to regulate the emissions from coal-fired power stations, which account for nearly 20% of the electricity produced in the United States.
“Putting a limit on carbon dioxide emissions at levels that would require a national move away from coal to produce electricity could be a pertinent solution to the current crisis. It is unlikely that Congress granted the EPA authority to pass such a measure,” Judge John Roberts stated in the ruling.
“Today, Judge Elena Kagan stated that the Court stripped the Environmental Protection Agency the power Congress gave to it to address the’most pressing issue of our times.'” For progressives, Judge Elena Kagan stated that six of the hottest years were recorded over the past decade.
Although the ruling was welcomed immediately by many Republican governors who were behind the lawsuit, it was deemed “catastrophic” by Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a House Democrat. He represents another shift in the Supreme Court’s footing after the last-minute abortion flip.
It had decided in 2007 that the EPA was competent for regulating the emissions of greenhouse gases. This is similar to the responsibility it has under a 1960s law regarding limiting air pollution. Trump, the former Republican president, is a climatesceptic and has made three judges to the American Law Temple, consolidating his conservative majority (6 out of 9).
This file is a result of an ambitious plan that Barack Obama adopted in 2015 to reduce CO2 emissions. Before entering into force, this “Clean Power Plan”, whose execution was halted by the EPA, was found to be illegal.
Donald Trump’s “Affordable Clean Energy Rule” was issued in 2019. It limits EPA’s power generation site authority and does not allow it to design the entire grid.
After this version was invalidated by a federal court, conservative states and the coal sector asked the Supreme Court for clarification and intervention. The administration of Democrat Joe Biden made it clear that it didn’t intend to resurrect Barack Obama’s plan, and asked the High Court for a declaration null and void.
