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EXPLAINER: Why Court’s EPA-climate change ruling matters

Erin Tinerella, of Chicago, who is in Washington for the summer at an internship, protests against climate change after the Supreme Court's EPA decision, Thursday, June 30, 2022, at the Supreme Court in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) FILE - Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan, left, speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, May 16, 2022. The Biden administration on Thursday, June 2, 2022, proposed undoing a Trump-era rule that limited the power of states and Native American tribes to block energy projects like natural gas pipelines based on their potential to pollute rivers and streams. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) Nicky Sundt, of Washington, holds a sign with an image depicting Medusa that says, "Remember in November, Vote!," outside of the Supreme Court, Wednesday, June 29, 2022, in Washington. "I'm trans and I identify as female," says Sundt, "all the women in my life have supported me in my transition, and the least I can do is to come here and support them. I don't have voting rights living in DC so what is there left to do but hold signs and protest." She is concerned about climate change, women's rights, and gay rights. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) FILE - President Joe Biden speaks during the "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment" event at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. The administration is holding its first onshore oil and gas leasing sales this week after a court rejected its attempt to suspend sales because of climate change concerns. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File) FILE - Emissions from a coal-fired power plant are silhouetted against the setting sun in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 1, 2021. The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 30, 2022, limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. By a 6-3 vote, with conservatives in the majority, the court said that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) FILE - Steam billows from a coal-fired power plant Nov. 18, 2021, in Craig, Colo. The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 30, 2022, limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. By a 6-3 vote, with conservatives in the majority, the court said that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) Nicky Sundt, of Washington, holds a sign with an image depicting Medusa that says, "Remember in November, Vote!," outside of the Supreme Court, Wednesday, June 29, 2022, in Washington. "I'm trans and I identify as female," says Sundt, "all the women in my life have supported me in my transition, and the least I can do is to come here and support them. I don't have voting rights living in DC so what is there left to do but hold signs and protest." She is concerned about climate change, women's rights, and gay rights. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) FILE - President Joe Biden speaks during the "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment" event at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. The administration is holding its first onshore oil and gas leasing sales this week after a court rejected its attempt to suspend sales because of climate change concerns. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File) FILE - Emissions from a coal-fired power plant are silhouetted against the setting sun in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 1, 2021. The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 30, 2022, limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. By a 6-3 vote, with conservatives in the majority, the court said that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) Nicky Sundt, of Washington, holds a sign with an image depicting Medusa that says, "Remember in November, Vote!," outside of the Supreme Court, Wednesday, June 29, 2022, in Washington. "I'm trans and I identify as female," says Sundt, "all the women in my life have supported me in my transition, and the least I can do is to come here and support them. I don't have voting rights living in DC so what is there left to do but hold signs and protest." She is concerned about climate change, women's rights, and gay rights. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) FILE - Emissions from a coal-fired power plant are silhouetted against the setting sun in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 1, 2021. The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 30, 2022, limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. By a 6-3 vote, with conservatives in the majority, the court said that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) FILE - Steam billows from a coal-fired power plant Nov. 18, 2021, in Craig, Colo. The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 30, 2022, limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. By a 6-3 vote, with conservatives in the majority, the court said that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) FILE - President Joe Biden speaks during the "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment" event at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. The administration is holding its first onshore oil and gas leasing sales this week after a court rejected its attempt to suspend sales because of climate change concerns. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File) FILE - Emissions from a coal-fired power plant are silhouetted against the setting sun in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 1, 2021. The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 30, 2022, limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. By a 6-3 vote, with conservatives in the majority, the court said that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) FILE - Emissions from a coal-fired power plant are silhouetted against the setting sun in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 1, 2021. The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 30, 2022, limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. By a 6-3 vote, with conservatives in the majority, the court said that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
EXPLAINER: Why Court’s EPA-climate change ruling matters