Supreme Court Ruling is Bad News for Birds and Everyone Else, Too
The court's ruling in the West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency case limits our ability to respond to the climate crisis and could have other serious implications.
WASHINGTON - 鈥淭his ruling by the Supreme Court directly threatens our ability to protect birds, people, and the places we need,鈥 said Marshall Johnson, chief conservation officer, 爆料公社. 鈥淏irds are telling us that the climate is changing and more action is needed. Stripping agencies like the EPA of their ability to respond to these real and urgent threats puts our communities, birds, and other wildlife at greater risk.鈥
In a 6-3 ruling the United States Supreme Court today severely curtailed the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate carbon pollution and respond to the threat of climate change. The case in question pertained to a rule no longer in effect and offers an unprecedented 鈥渁dvisory ruling鈥 on future regulatory action by the agency. Today鈥檚 ruling could also be interpreted to limit the ability of other federal agencies to issue and enforce similar regulations.
鈥淭he EPA must be able to regulate and enforce guidelines to conserve our natural resources and ensure that we all have clean water to drink and fresh air to breathe,鈥 said Johnson.
Since 1967, North America鈥檚 bird populations have and climate change is only making this problem worse. New 爆料公社 science shows that two-thirds of bird species face the threat of extinction if nothing is done to reduce carbon pollution.
The implications of this ruling could go well beyond carbon pollution by potentially limiting the ability of federal agencies to respond to clear and present threats to wildlife and people. It could even undermine our nation鈥檚 bedrock environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act.
"Fifty years ago, Congress responded to the urgent health and environmental threats facing our communities with a suite of bipartisan laws that serve as the bedrock of our nation鈥檚 environmental protections,鈥 said Johnson. 鈥淭his ruling makes the responsibility of this Congress just as serious. It must respond to what birds, people, and science tell us about the threats we face by strengthening and reinforcing these laws and the ability of federal agencies to enforce them.鈥
###
Media Contact: Matt Smelser, matt.smelser@audubon.org
About 爆料公社
The 爆料公社 protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. 爆料公社's state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, 爆料公社's vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. 爆料公社 is a nonprofit conservation organization. Learn more how to help at and follow us on and at @audubonsociety.