On Monday, April 2, the Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority and must consider regulating greenhouse gases (GHG) from automobiles. The Court, in a 5-4 ruling, argued that the EPA violated the Clean Air Act by declining to "regulate new-vehicle emissions standards to control the pollutants that scientists say contribute to global warming." This is the first time the Supreme Court has considered legal questions related to the regulation of greenhouse gases. This ruling will likely increase pressure on Congress to legislate to control GHG emissions.
Immediately following the announcement of the Court's decision, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released a statement saying that, "While I still believe Congress did not intend for the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases, the Supreme Court has made its decision and the matter is now settled." Dingell added that the decision provides another reason "why Congress must enact, and the President must sign, comprehensive climate change legislation." Dingell was Committee Chairman at the time and instrumental in drafting the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990.
The Senate plans to call EPA officials before the Environment and Public Works Committee to discern how they will handle the Court's decision.
The Court's ruling will likely also put pressure on the Bush administration to compromise with Congressional Democrats who are currently drafting climate change legislation.