MADISON – Wisconsin Conservation Voters condemns the Supreme Court decision in West Virginia v. EPA, which undermines the EPA’s authority to tackle climate pollution and protect the health of the American people. This decision puts the health of communities at risk, particularly vulnerable populations most impacted by climate change including Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color.
Executive Director Kerry Schumann had this to say about the Supreme Court decision:
“Today, the Supreme Court bucked more than 50 years of precedent to side with big, corporate polluters over the wellbeing of our communities. This decision limits the EPA from setting the kind of highly-effective standards we need to protect our health.
The majority ignores the science of climate change. It also sets a dangerous precedent by undermining the authority of all federal agencies to establish the strongest, most cost effective pollution standards to protect people and the environment from dangerous pollution and other threats. This decision is an outrageous overreach by the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority at a time when we need every tool in the toolbox to combat the climate crisis.
Low-income people and people of color bear the heaviest burdens of climate change and pollution – this Supreme Court decision will harm them the most. Today, we’re reminded how important it is to support leaders at all levels of government who believe in science and will fight for a healthier future for all of us.
We urge Congress to pass President Biden’s $555 billion for investments in climate, jobs, and justice that will lower costs for families and protect our health and environment. Wisconsin cannot afford to wait. It’s time to act on the climate crisis.”
