The Daily The Supreme Court Case That Could Doom U.S. Climate Goals
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Jun 23, 2022 
Coral Davenport, an energy and environmental policy correspondent for The New York Times, delves into a pivotal Supreme Court case that could reshape U.S. climate regulations. She discusses how the case, West Virginia v. EPA, challenges the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Davenport highlights the historical context of climate policy and the extraordinary pressures from conservative activists. The implications could drastically alter federal regulatory authority and the future of environmental protections.
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Obama's Climate Action
- Obama, unable to pass climate legislation, used executive action to regulate power plant emissions.
- This action, based on the Clean Air Act, aimed to transform the U.S. electricity sector.
Clean Air Act's Power
- Obama's executive action relied on the 1970 Clean Air Act, a broad law not specifically addressing climate change.
- This Act grants the EPA authority over unknown future pollutants.
The Lawsuit Begins
- Republican attorneys general immediately sued, claiming Obama overstepped the Clean Air Act's intent.
- This lawsuit, led by West Virginia, challenged the EPA's authority.