What the Court's Decision on Climate Change Means for Biden's Presidency
The summer of 2016 has been exceptionally hot across the US, with multiple states experiencing the longest and most severe heat waves in their history. On Monday, July 18th, 2016, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that blocked Obama’s signature climate change regulation from taking effect (the Clean Power Plan). While the Court stated that it was not denying the reality of climate change or rejecting the federal government’s role in combating it, there are very few tools left at Biden’s disposal to prevent this issue from hindering his chances of winning the White House in November.
Background and Context
The Supreme Court handed down a major decision on climate change this week, ruling that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate greenhouse gases. The 5-4 decision is a victory for industry groups and Republicans who have long argued that the EPA does not have the power to regulate emissions, and it deals a serious blow to President Obama's efforts to combat climate change.
Different Ways To Tackle The Issue
The court's decision leaves President Biden with few options to combat climate change. Here are a few different ways he could tackle the issue 1) Biden could pursue environmental legislation through executive order, but it would be challenged in the courts and only remain in effect until 2021.
2) He could use regulatory actions to curb greenhouse gas emissions, but that would also be challenged in the courts and would only last until 2021.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to the Obama administration's efforts to combat climate change when it ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could not regulate emissions from power plants without first getting approval from Congress. The decision will likely make it harder for President-elect Biden to implement his climate change agenda.
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