Supreme Court puts Obama carbon emissions plan on hold

  • 8 years ago
The US Supreme Court has put on hold President Barack Obama's sweeping plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fueled power plants pending a legal challenge.
A coalition of 27 US states is suing in a lower court to halt Obama's Clean Power Plan, and petitioned the Supreme Court to suspend its implementation until the case is resolved.
"We disagree with the Supreme Court's decision to stay the Clean Power Plan while litigation proceeds," spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement issued after the five-to-four ruling.
Tuesday's ruling, backed by five of the nine Supreme Court justices, deals a significant blow to Obama's efforts to rein in man-made climate change.
The court's four liberal voices contested the decision to halt the emission rules, which would require the power sector's carbon dioxide emissions to be slashed by at least 32 percent compared to 2005 levels by the year 2030.

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