by HIGH POINT — The Sustainable Furnishings Council has gone on record as opposing the Supreme Court’s decision to limit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.
The June 30 ruling eliminated the agency’s ability to create emissions caps, instead placing the authority in the hands of Congress to provide specific policy direction to the EPA regarding greenhouse gas emissions.
Calling this a decision to “gut the Clean Air Act of 1970, “the SFC said that striking down future EPA regulations is a threat to the physical health of individuals and communities. In response, the SFC said it will continue to educate the industry and member businesses on “what they can do to promote a healthy future.”
“The home furnishings industry is relatively small, but has an impactful environmental footprint,” the SFC said in a statement issued on the ruling. “SFC’s coalition of manufacturers, retailers and designers remains dedicated to raising awareness and expanding the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices across our industry, which includes vehemently advocating for legislation that will reduce CO2 emissions. We are called on not only to be responsible for reducing CO2 emissions in our own businesses, but also to be vocal about sustainability practices, inspiring other companies in the private sector and, ultimately, our legislators.”
The SFC noted that since 2016 the U.S. has been party to an agreement to curb climate impact in order to limit global temperature increases to reduce global warming.
“We have the technology to do that but not yet the will,” the SFC continued. “Most Americans are clear that those CO2 emissions are a major problem, with 1 in 10 homes impacted by natural disasters last year alone. It is incredulous that SCOTUS has limited the EPA’s ability to determine and restrict the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from power plants. This ruling also threatens other measures that could help protect our fragile environment, including the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rule to report climate impact.”
According to the University of Colorado Boulder, the Supreme Court decision places decision making authority regarding emissions policy in the hands of Congress. However, an expert interviewed on the issue also noted that the ruling only addresses the EPA’s authority under one provision of the Clean Air Act and related to just one industry, which the expert said was “moving in the right direction anyway.”
The expert also said the Supreme Court ruling also does not stop either federal, state or local governments from acting on climate change.
For a look at that interview, click here.
