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Beginnings and Changes in Climate Policy
UK climate policy
The UK High Court ruled on July 18 that the UK government’s Net Zero Strategy did not uphold its duties under the Climate Change Act 2008 and commanded that the strategy be updated.
The decision is comparable to others made in Europe by courts that are examining governmental climate change action. However, because they are frequently founded on tortious allegations, lawsuits against corporations are more difficult to establish.
US climate policy
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in West Virginia v. EPA that the EPA lacked the power to compel “generation shifting” away from fossil fuels in order to lower GHG emissions.
The “Inflation Reduction Act,” which will lower GHG emissions through financial, tax, and incentive subsidies, was approved by the U.S. Senate on August 7. The legislation does not specify a net-zero goal, though, and the Supreme Court may raise “serious issues” about it.
Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Although the courts have so far been ineffective venues for these lawsuits, there will likely still be private litigation against governments and corporations for their involvement in contributing to climate change.
Although both nations are making an effort to reduce GHG emissions, it is still unclear if they will succeed. Plaintiffs will keep looking for novel ways to hold governments responsible.
Inflation Reduction Act and U.S. Climate Policy
It’s time for President Biden to issue a climate emergency, two Democrats told reporters in the U.S. Capitol Building in July. The Inflation Reduction Act was approved by the Senate less than three weeks later.
The U.S. will reduce emissions more quickly thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, putting it closer to the Biden Administration’s target of halving emissions by 2030. Additionally, it will aid in persuading other nations that the energy shift is inevitable.
- The strategy for reducing U.S. emissions outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act is the culmination of years of trial and error. It pledges to generate jobs and investment in American communities and focuses heavily on incentives rather than sanctions.
- Companies that produce wind and solar energy as well as a variety of other sustainable energy technologies will be eligible for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2015. The development of a decarbonized energy system will be accelerated by these credits.
The ripple effect of the Inflation Reduction Act
The law will lower consumer energy prices by promoting energy-efficient housing and offering tax breaks for electric vehicles.
The Inflation Reduction Act provides incentives for the use of carbon capture technology, however advocates for environmental justice claim that these technologies won’t significantly benefit the marginalized populations that frequently face the burden of environmental pollution from fossil fuels.