kenneth ford mccallionAn environmental lawyer who has successfully litigated cases related to Exxon Valdez and the Bhopal gas disaster discusses the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions. State of West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency. In the 6-3 decision in West Virginia v. EPA, the conservative justices ruled that the EPA cannot develop a comprehensive policy to limit global warming. McCallion argues that the Supreme Court has „dealt a body blow to climate policy in this country.“ Ironically, 68% of Americans surveyed by Pew Research Center in 2019 said they believed the government should act to „mitigate the effects of global climate change.“ However, the court claims that it is returning power to the state and its people. Even 39% of Republicans surveyed agree that the government is not doing enough. Because Congress takes too long to enact laws, it has relied on experts at agencies such as the EPA to develop policies that respond to scientific insights about the rapidly changing environment. Now the court has weakened that authority.
![Kenneth Ford McCallion, author and environmental lawyer](https://earthnew.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/KennethMcCallion.jpg)
Kenneth talks about how the court tilted toward an ideologically charged conservative majority and the prospects for new regulations to combat climate change after the ruling. He also works with Congress, state legislatures, and local governments to pass laws and fund programs to reduce emissions, restore nature, and counter ideological decisions coming from the Supreme Court in the future. It also has advice on what ordinary citizens can do to influence their leaders. his new book, Saving the world one thing at a timeThe book, which tells the story of his career fighting polluters and representing Holocaust survivors and Gulf War veterans, is now available at: Amazon and powell's book.
Editor's note: This podcast was originally published on July 22, 2022.