Court rules on U.S. Greenhouse Gas Regulation

Abstract

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that greenhouse gases are ‘pollutants’ under the federal Clean Air Act and that the U.S. government has the authority to regulate them. Twelve states and several non‐profit organizations had sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after EPA ruled in 2003 that it lacked authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The Court, in its 5‐4 ruling, objected to EPA's “laundry list of reasons not to regulate” greenhouse gases and said that EPA “offered no reasoned explanation for its refusal to decide whether greenhouse gases cause or contribute to climate change.” EPA was ordered to revisit its decision on regulating greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The full Court opinion on Massachusetts us. EPA is available at http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/05‐1120.pdf