by Tan Copsey
News today from the US where the Supreme Court will begin hearing Massachusetts v. EPA, another significant step in efforts to make climate change a legal issue. This comes on the back of other significant legal moves in California where the state sued car manufacturers for creating a ‘public nuisance’ by contributing to global warming. In this instance the Supreme Court has the ability to empower the US Environmental Protection Agency, potentially allowing it to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide under the US Clean Air Act. To do so it would need to classify Carbon Dioxide as a pollutant – surely not great step given the overwhelming scientific evidence that supports this proposition.
Whilst in all honesty I’m rather sceptical (!) about the possibility of this Supreme Court ruling in favour of plaintiff’s who include California, New York, and American Samoa amongst others, that the case is even being heard is notable. In the US the Supreme Court has a well known history of being an agent for social change. Why not be an agent that helps stop climate change?
