Supreme Court Backs EPA Decisions

Big Business and global warming deniers lost some battles in the Supreme Court recently. Lower courts had ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had the right to determine that carbon dioxide (and other climate change pollutants) endangered the health of Americans, and that it could limit the carbon pollution emitted by cars and trucks. This last week, the Supreme Court let both lower court decisions stand -- a huge win for the EPA.

And in a further win for the environment, the Supreme Court refused to reinstate 77 oil and gas leases in the Western United States, offered for sale during the Bush administration and voided by the Obama administration. Those leases would have damaged some pristine areas of Utah -- including Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dinosaur National Monument.

It was a good week at the court for environmental groups, and the American citizens.