Top Court Orders EPA to Reconsider Regulating Emissions (4/02/07)

[Judgement]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/02/AR2007040200487.html?hpid%3Dtopnews⊂=AR

In the case of Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Massachusetts, which means that the EPA must reconsider its refusal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and held that the EPA has a "statutory obligation" to regulate such admissions.

"In reaching its decision, the court's majority ruled that carbon dioxide and other emissions that trap heat in the earth's atmosphere fit the definition of "air pollutants" under the Clean Air Act and that the government thus has the authority to regulate them." (WP)

 

[DM]

So, wait... you're saying that up until now, EPA didn't do anything about greenhouse emissions??? Good god, what a waste of an agency.

Also, ordered to "reconsider"? That sounds vague to me, like it's only a loose suggestion that can be shrugged aside.

 

[LazarusLong]

This is actually surprisingly heartening.

To put things into perspective, the people that were appointed to the EPA in the last several years have been essentially claiming, every single time global warming comes up as an issue, that they can't really do anything about it because they simply don't have the authority to deal with global warming. It's been a big issue if you follow environmental news.

Basically, they've been saying that since it's out of their authority to enforce regulations that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, instead they offer voluntary programs. Not so hot.

This ruling is fairly awesome, because it's basically saying that it is fully within the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, which means,

(A) They can no longer stick to their previous byline ("well, sure, we'd like to, but it's out of our hands - let's just offer these programs for how to reduce emissions but not enforce them or offer any real incentive for following them"), and...

(B) It basically FORCES the EPA to finally address global warming officially. And it's about damned time.

 

[Judgement]

DM, the Supreme Court is basically saying that they have to regulate emissions and that it is part of their job.

 

[LazarusLong]

DM, the Supreme Court is basically saying that they have to regulate emissions and that it is part of their job.

Well, it's not quite that awesome. Instead they're saying that it is within the EPA's responsibility to do so, and if they don't actively regulate greenhouse gas emissions, they at least have to provide reasons as to why they are not (and it isn't within our authority, which is the argument they've been using, will no longer fly). It would be awesome if they were saying it HAD to be regulated, but at least now they have no choice but to address the issue.

And yeah, it's not as great as it could be, but it's a huge step in the right direction.

 

[Judgement]

It will probably come to that point soon, imo, since they cannot not regulate the emissions for long.