July 1, 2022 | On June 30, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a 6-3 decision in a case that limits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its power to regulate greenhouse gases. In response to the Court’s decision in West Virginia v. EPA, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development issued the following statement:

“The Catholic bishops of the United States have long-supported the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases in order to address climate change. As we said in 2018, the EPA has ‘both the statutory authority and responsibility to take regulatory action… It is hard to foresee a scenario, under current economic and technological conditions, in which the EPA faithfully carries out its mandate to protect the public health from greenhouse gases without significantly affecting political and economic realities.’ 

“We are, therefore, disappointed today that following the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act the EPA will have significantly restricted authority to regulate greenhouse gases from power plants. Both reasonable regulation and legislation are critical for addressing the threat and challenges of climate change. We call upon Congress to give the EPA the necessary authority to meaningfully regulate greenhouse gases.” 

For more on USCCB advocacy on climate change regulation, please see:

• Comments on Proposed EPA Rule on the Clean Power Plan - April 25, 2018
• Oral Testimony at EPA Public Hearing on Implementation of Carbon Pollution Standards through the Proposed Federal Plan - Cecilia Calvo on behalf of Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Bishop Oscar Cantú, November 18, 2015
• Comments to EPA on Carbon Pollution Standards for Existing Power Plants - Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Bishop Richard E. Pates, July 30, 2014
• Letter to EPA Administrator on Carbon Pollution Standards - Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, May 29, 2014