The Solutions Project statement on the Supreme Court’s E.P.A. ruling

After last week’s detrimental decision to overturn Roe V. Wade and strike down gun safety laws in New York, the U.S. Supreme Court stripped the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate carbon emissions from our country’s power plants. Coal still powers 20% of U.S. electricity and contributes to ~25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In a 6-3 ruling, the MAGA Justices have made it harder for the U.S. – one of the wealthiest countries and biggest polluters in the world – to address the climate crisis and protect people from pollution-related illness and death.

“In a series of quick decisions undermining decades of legal precedent, the Supreme Court chose to make us less safe and free. Yesterday’s decision shows that the majority of justices do not care about public health or addressing the climate crisis – the most urgent issues of our times,” said Gloria Walton, CEO and President of The Solutions Project. “Without action from congress and the White House, their decisions will result in more lives lost as the climate crisis worsens and pollution disproportionately harms Black, Indigenous, women, immigrants, low-income, and other People of Color communities. This is an abuse of power.”

“However, the power doesn’t only sit with the court; power sits with the people,” Walton continued. “Grassroots organizers helped turn out voters in record numbers, electing a President and legislators who can take action, today. In fact, yesterday we celebrated Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson taking her rightful seat on the Supreme Court, a victory from the grassroots. Local communities don’t wait for the federal government to lead or save us – people power is already leading and tackling the climate crisis and improving the health and lives of those on the frontlines and beyond. They are implementing solutions that protect us all.”