On a Tuesday that will be remembered for its environmental significance, the U.S. Supreme Court swept aside a challenge by 11 Republican-led states to halt the Biden administration from factoring in the social cost of greenhouse gases during federal decision-making.
These states, with Missouri at the helm, had hoped for the justices to revisit the Eighth Circuit’s decision from October 2022. However, the court had already ruled that these states failed to illustrate any tangible harm caused by the interim greenhouse gas cost estimates, which were unveiled in the initial phase of Biden’s term. To further strengthen the case, the U.S. Department of Justice had ardently advocated for the dismissal of the states’ appeal.
Grasping the Greenhouse Gas Impact
Ever thought about the real price tag on a puff of CO2 or a belch of methane? This is where the social cost of greenhouse gases comes into play, quantifying in dollars the impact emissions have on society and the planet. These estimates aren’t just arbitrary figures; they serve as the bedrock for regulations meant to rein in air pollutants.
Biden’s Swift Climate Actions
In an executive order delivered on his very first day in office, President Joe Biden rallied his troops, orchestrating an Interagency Working Group dedicated to climate action. Before a month had passed, his team revived the Obama-era guidelines on the social cost of greenhouse gases. This was just a placeholder until a fresh set of metrics could be crafted, but it lit the fuse for legal fireworks from several states.
Biden GHG Cost Estimates : States Rally in Opposition
States from the frosty peaks of Alaska to the deserts of Arizona voiced their concern. Their core argument? The Interagency Working Group’s numbers would bring about heftier regulations and steeper costs. But the court wasn’t swayed. The Eighth Circuit saw the states’ grievances as too remote, and their argument fell like a house of cards.
