Archived press release

US Supreme Court to hear climate change case

27 June 2006

Friends of the Earth is delighted that the Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether the Bush Administration must regulate carbon dioxide to stop global warming. The case was brought by Friends of the Earth US, twelve states, several cities and environmental groups as a result of a 2003 ruling by the Environmental Protection Agency that disavowed the agency's jurisdiction under the Clean Air Act to regulate global warming emissions.

In August of 2003, EPA officials issued a ruling denying their authority to regulate carbon dioxide, claiming that it did not meet the Clean Air Act definition for a "pollutant." The ruling came in response to a 1999 petition by Friends of the Earth US, and other environmental organizations asking EPA to comply with the law, which requires the agency to protect Americans against all harmful pollutants, including emissions that damage the climate. In response to this ruling, Friends of the Earth and other groups and governments sued the agency.

Friends of the Earth United States' Executive Director Norman Dean said:

"The Supreme Court's decision to hear this case could be a watershed moment in our fight to stop global warming. The US government's wait and see approach to global warming pollutants isn't working. Since 1990, global warming emissions have increased by 16 percent.

"Global warming has already been linked to more severe storms, including Category 4 and 5 hurricanes, floods, and droughts. Outbreaks of tropical diseases such as West Nile Virus will also increase as previously cooler climates will become breeding grounds for insect borne pests. If left unchecked, global warming will cause rising sea levels, the melting of the polar icecaps, and a host of other environmental problems that will seriously affect the lives of virtually every American. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma caused $57.6 billion in insurance losses in 2005 - more than double 2004's all-time record. These costs will increase if the U.S. does nothing to curb global warming."

Friends of the Earth International vice -chair, Tony Juniper said:

"This case could have far reaching consequences for climate change policy in the USA. The Bush Administration's has used scientific uncertainty as a major reason against taking structured action on global warming. Although this position has become more and more untenable, Bush seems determined to stick to it. If on the strength of the latest science the court correctly confirms that there is a proven link between carbon dioxide emissions and climate change, then a serious blow will be delivered to Whitehouse policy. If we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change, then George Bush and his backers in big oil must join the real world as a matter of some urgency. Hopefully this case could be part of that process".

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust