US Supreme Court ruling on environmental protection ‘a setback in our fight against climate change’ — Global Issues
He was responding to a question during a regular noon briefing at United Nations Headquarters in New York, about the ruling, which effectively stripped the EPA of its power to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. .
The case has been brought by the state of West Virginia on behalf of other states mainly led by the Republican Party, and several major coal-producing companies against the US Government agency.
A wind turbine farm in Maui, USA., by © Unsplash / Tim Foster
The issue decided by a 6-3 majority is whether the EPA has the power to regulate CO2 emissions statewide at the individual company level.
The conservative majority in the Court sided with the states and fossil fuel interests, which argued it threatened overregulation, agreeing that Congress – when the EPA was established – did not intends to delegate such important decisions to an agency.
US President Joe Biden has described it as a “devastating decision”. While the court ruling does not prevent the EPA from regulating future emissions, it is clear from the news reports that Congress will have to give explicit consent for the agency to act.
Was ‘far from the rails’
“While the UN is not in a position to provide legal comment on the judicial decisions of individual Member States, more generally I can say that This is a step backwards in our fight against climate change, as we have gone too far in achieving our goals. Paris Agreement,” Mr. Dujarric told reporters.
“The Secretary-General has repeatedly said that the G20 [group of developed industrialized economies] He continued.
“Decisions like today in the US – or any other major developed economy – make it more difficult to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, live planet, especially when we need to accelerate the phase of phasing out coal and switching to renewable energy. “
The US continues to be the largest emitter of planet-warming CO2, second only to China, however, Mr. Dujarric said it was important not to overreact to the actions of a high court. nation.
“We also need to remember that a global emergency like climate change requires a global response and that actions by one country should not and cannot be taken or disrupted even if we meeting its climate goals.”
Still have time
He reminded that the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres recently said that there is still time to avert the worst effects of climate change, “if all countries – especially those that make up the G20 – step up their effortsJoin cities, regions, businesses and investors, and individuals everywhere speaking out for stronger climate action.”
