Washington, DC

In the case of West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 today to significantly narrow the scope of the Clean Air Act, causing a major setback for President Biden’s plan to rein in greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel-burning powerplants.

Aimee Delach, senior policy analyst for climate adaptation at Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:

“Today’s decision leaves the most powerful country on Earth fighting our greatest existential crisis with one hand tied behind our back. No country has contributed as heavily to climate change as the United States, and now we have few options to turn back the clock. This is a dark day for our planet and the countless species that may perish as a result.”

Carbon emissions from chimneys
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For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.  

 

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