Local leaders expressed disappointment in a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court limiting the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Boulder County, city of Boulder and Broomfield officials issued a statement condemning last week’s ruling. A Longmont spokesperson said the city had no official response to the ruling.
The six to three ruling in West Virginia v. EPA limits certain broad regulatory decisions by the EPA, like the cap-and-trade program. Environmentalists say the decision endangers the county’s ability to confront the climate crisis and hampers the federal government’s ability to mitigate the human and financial costs of climate change.
In Boulder County, many residents experience the impacts of climate change regularly through high heat days, extreme weather, drought, poor air quality and wildfires.
“Only six months ago, Boulder County experienced the devastating effects of the climate crisis when the Marshall Fire destroyed large parts of our community,” Boulder County Commissioner Matt Jones said in a statement.
He called on the EPA to consider using the Toxic Substances Control Act to phase out greenhouse gasses, which county commissioners backed in a petition last week.
Leaders also highlighted local and state efforts to respond to the climate crisis. Colorado is set to close all its coal plants by no later than 2031, but without a global approach Colorado will continue to feel the negative impacts of climate change.
“This is no doubt a setback for our climate, but it will not deter the city from continuing to advocate on all fronts — local, state and federal — for policies that will stabilize our climate and protect our communities,” Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett said in a release. “While we've made great progress at the local and state level, a strong federal response to the climate crisis is desperately needed — not just for our residents, but for the entire planet.”
In Broomfield, environmental sustainability is a focal point of long-term social economic, social and environmental health, the release said.
“This is another major step backward for the nation and world in the midst of realizing the devastating effects of global warming,” Broomfield Mayor Guyleen Castriotta said. “The fight will continue in earnest to drive policies that are consistent with the science."
