Global Warming News

Trenton, NJ—The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments today in a landmark global warming case.  The case will decide whether the Clean Air Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the pollution that causes global warming.

“For six years, the Bush administration has toed the oil, coal, and auto industry line on global warming, but today is their day of reckoning,” said Doug O’Malley, field director for Environment New Jersey. 

In direct conflict with previous EPA legal opinions, EPA now claims that the Clean Air Act does not give it the authority to regulate global warming pollution.  But the Clean Air Act explicitly authorizes EPA to regulate emissions of any air pollutant that “may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare,” and it defines “welfare” to include adverse effects on “weather” and “climate.”

“We’re optimistic that today marks a turning point in our nation’s fight to protect future generations from global warming.  Finally, we’ll be able to put to work the many solutions that are available to reduce global warming pollution,” said O’Malley.

While the case is likely to have broad implications for regulating global warming from cars, power plants, and other sources, the Supreme Court will consider whether current law compels EPA to regulate global warming emissions from cars and light trucks.  New Jersey’s global warming tailpipe emissions standards for cars and light trucks could be affected by the ruling in the case.  Under the Clean Air Act, states may adopt California’s tailpipe emissions standards in lieu of minimum federal standards, as New Jersey has done along with ten other states.

“The states have been at the forefront of action on global warming,” said O’Malley.

Environment New Jersey and U.S. PIRG are petitioners in the case, along with a coalition of states, cities, and environmental organizations.  For a complete list of the petitioners and other documents related to the case, go to www.cleancarscampaign.org and click on “Court Action.”

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Environment New Jersey is the new home of NJPIRG’s environmental work, and is a non-partisan citizen-based advocacy organization that represents over 20,000 members across New Jersey.