Today’s decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency drastically undermines federal efforts to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from power plants under the guidance of the Clean Air Act. West Virginia v. EPA was brought before the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) by coal companies and pro-fossil fuel Republican allies, challenging the EPA’s regulatory authority, claiming it’s too expansive.
The Supreme Court’s decision prioritizes polluters over people threatening public health and our planet’s wellbeing. Robust climate action can’t wait, and even the slightest delay in action promotes the destruction of our environment. This decision, in favor of fossil fuel polluters, serves as a preemptive block on the Biden Administration’s ability to make a rapid transition away from the fossil fuel sector toward renewable energy.
“Make no mistake, the Supreme Court’s ruling today risks the lives of thousands of people by limiting the ability of the U.S. government to regulate carbon pollution from power plants. It prioritizes polluters, especially the coal industry, over people. This is a moral travesty…”
—Rev. Susan Hendershot, President of Interfaith Power & Light
As Texas enters its hottest months of the year, we are all too familiar with the devastation caused by droughts and extreme heat; the EPA’s disempowerment only contributes to a future plagued by increased climate extremes. Additionally, greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector already account for a quarter of the U.S.’s total emissions. Without the work of the EPA, those pollutants will only hasten the effects of climate change, making large portions of the Lone Star State inhabitable.
Furthermore, low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change and face extreme air and water pollution. These frontline communities will be most affected by today’s ruling, and as members of the faith community, we can’t allow that to happen.
Although the Supreme Court’s decision is detrimental to the Clean Air Act, the Biden Administration still holds the authority to follow through on climate campaign promises. The administration can declare a climate emergency, stop new fossil fuel leases, the construction of pipelines, and fossil fuel infrastructure, right now. Roughly 200,000 Americans die annually from air pollution alone. If we care about life, we must care about our ability to regulate pollution.
As people of faith, we have a moral responsibility to care for our community and protect our children’s future. That begins with addressing climate change. Congress must act quickly to address climate change and deliver on the $550 billion in climate and clean energy investments promised.
I encourage you to tell your Senators to act now, safeguarding our planet and human flourishing now and for the future.