The Supreme Court this week handed out more rulings, including one that severely limits the EPA's power to regulate greenhouse gases at power plants. The ruling comes as scientists warn time is running out to diminish the worst impacts of a warming climate. Marie Owens Powell, President of AFGE Council 238, the biggest union for EPA employees, joins Closing Bell to discuss the impact the ruling will have on Americans, EPA employees, our climate, and more. 

Closing Bell

What Does Supreme Court Ruling on EPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mean for Climate Change Fight?

Okay well the Supreme Court handing out another consequential ruling on thursday weakening the E. P. S. Authority to set environmental regulations when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. So what does this mean for President biden's Progressive climate plans? And what does it mean for americans who are increasingly at risk of climate based disasters? Joining me now is Maria Owens Powell president of A. F. G. Council to 38 the biggest union representing E. P. A. Employees Marie. Thanks so much for coming on the show. Thank you so much for having me. We're happy to have. Um So what are the consequences of this ruling? Both for the E. P. A. And for americans? So the ruling and the decision it attacks our union 7500 plus E. P. A. Workers across the country. It strips are federal scientists of their ability to help the american public tackle perhaps the worst effects of climate change. And and it strips the E. P. A. Of its power to protect the environment and our communities from a worsening climate crisis. The decision is essentially made it. So E. P. A. Scientists need to request permission from Congress in order to do our job which is the protection of human health and the environment. So what is your union planning to do in the wake of this? I mean is there action that you can take? So there is action that each of us can actually take and and that is to reach out to our our lawmakers and to let them know that they we really demand that the Supreme Court decision be reversed. Um Look basically everyone regardless of race, gender income, Geography. We all just want to make things a little bit better for our Children. And that's not going to happen with this type of decision making. Together we can accomplish the long term goal of meaningful change. Okay so let's take a look at what the President had to say. He issued a statement about the ruling yesterday calling it quote another devastating decision that aims to take our country backwards. End quote. Those are the President's words also saying he will use his authority to tackle the climate crisis. What can the president do at this point? So I know that President biden has mentioned working with Department of Justice and I wouldn't presume to to know what um action plan would be coming out of those meetings. Um But I I do stress, as I had said before, the need for every individual to reach out to their representatives, their senators and demand, you know the decision be be reversed and also stand in solidarity with the E. P. A. Scientists and science community and fight for E. P. A. And not only people but other agencies that protect our environment and our communities. So of course this challenge actually presented by west Virginia and other states that are fossil fuel producers. What does that have to do with it and what do you expect might come next Marie. So I think the impacts of the rollback remain to be seen. But what I can guarantee is progress on the climate change goals will be slowed by this decision. The targeting of coal fired power plants which are some of the biggest contributors to global warming will be crippling. Will be crippled by you know this decision um will be crippled. Bye. The Supreme Court's movement to push things back to Congress. The the goal has always been that the Supreme Court be a atypical and I'm sorry and a political organization. So therefore they would be making decisions from not a political standpoint. And what happened with this decision is that it pushes these type of of matters back into Congress which we all know is a political body. So how was the day to day of your union members gonna change in the wake of this decision? I don't expect that we'll see any immediate day to day change? What I do think will be more difficult is as we get deeper into the work and very necessary work with regard to the climate crisis. We will start to see roadblocks and what that will mean is that E. P. A. Won't be able to create regulations that have the expansive social and economic impacts on our own basically. Um We would have to as I said, go back to Congress despite decades of precedent doing exactly that of the agency creating the required regulations to protect human health and the environment and quickly Marie before we have to wrap here due to timing for americans, how might this impact their daily lives? What changes could they see in the wake of this? Whether it's directly or indirectly? Unfortunately, I think they won't. They may not see change and that what changes exactly what we need right now. We are on the path of get of a warmer climate and the goal of all the climate change work and initiatives is to stop that right. I don't expect that we'll be able to do that with this type of decision out of the Supreme Court. All right, Marie Owens Powell, president of A. F. G. Counselor to 38 Marie. Thank you so much for coming on the show.