Today’s Supreme Court’s ruling on West Virginia v. The Environmental Protection Agency limits the EPA’s ability to set the strong standards needed to cut carbon pollution and tackle the climate crisis. We at Iowa IPL mourn this decision.
“The EPA is the agency tasked with protecting the air, water, and ultimately the environment we depend upon for our lives. We need every level of government to work toward reducing the impacts of climate change and protecting these critical resources.”
-Dr. Faith Harris, Co-Executive Director of Virginia Interfaith Power & Light
The ruling constrains the EPA’s authority to limit climate pollution from existing power plants. It does recognize EPA’s authority and responsibility to address climate pollution under the Clean Air Act, but it restricts the EPA’s authority to rely on clean energy solutions the power industry itself identified as the most common, proven, and cost-effective.
Every second that passes costs more dollars, lives lost, and missed opportunities. Climate can’t wait, and delays only make the cost of inaction go up. From increased numbers of derechos and tornados, historic wildfires, and record-breaking extreme weather, climate change is devastating our health and destroying our environment. Low-income communities and communities of color are hit first and worst by climate change and experience disproportionate air and water pollution. This is true in Iowa.
The climate crisis is an issue deeply impacting all life. As people of faith committed to environmental justice, we cannot ignore the intersections of these issues as they impact those on the front lines of climate change.
“Make no mistake, the Supreme Court’s ruling today risks the lives of thousands of people by limiting the ability of the U.S. government to regulate carbon pollution from power plants. It prioritizes polluters, especially the coal industry, over people. This is a moral travesty. People of faith and conscience have long been advocating for climate policy that will safeguard our children’s future and care for those burdened by pollution and climate impacts. Rest assured that we will continue to fight for these policies and carry out our faithful commitment to care for God’s creation and protect the vulnerable.”
-Rev. Susan Hendershot, IPL President and former Iowa IPL Executive Director
Iowa IPL joins national IPL and affiliates in calling on Congress to act swiftly to take bold and just action now to address climate change and deliver the $550 billion in investments in climate and clean energy that we need.