Supreme Court Deals Major Setback to California’s Climate Policies
In a landmark 7–2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key elements of California’s climate agenda, signaling a major challenge to the state’s efforts to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ruling directly affects California’s electric vehicle mandates and emissions targets, two central components of Governor Gavin Newsom’s ambitious plan to phase out gas-powered cars by 2035.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, emphasized that federal law may limit states’ ability to enforce such sweeping environmental regulations. “The government may not strangle an industry through unlawful regulation and then hide behind immunity,” Kavanaugh wrote, pointing to the Environmental Protection Agency’s shifting legal interpretations over time. His opinion leaves the door open for energy producers and other affected industries to challenge the EPA’s approval of California’s policies in court.
The decision marks a significant victory for American fuel manufacturers and opponents of aggressive state-level environmental mandates. Industry leaders argued that California’s regulations imposed unfair burdens, effectively forcing the market toward electric vehicles without clear legal authority. The Supreme Court’s ruling gives them legal standing to contest rules that, until now, were seen as a model for nationwide climate initiatives.
For Governor Newsom, the ruling represents a sharp political setback. The state’s 2035 goal to eliminate new sales of gasoline-powered vehicles was a centerpiece of his broader “green revolution,” which included ambitious targets for renewable energy, emissions reduction, and incentives for electric vehicles. Newsom has framed these policies as critical to fighting climate change and maintaining California’s leadership in clean technology, but the Supreme Court’s ruling limits the state’s ability to enforce them.
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