Fallout from climate ruling lands quickly

By ANDREW RESTUCCIA and ALEX GUILLÉN

The Supreme Court’s decision to slam the brakes on President Barack Obama’s most important climate regulation had an immediate impact at home and abroad Wednesday, prompting several states to halt their carbon-cutting efforts while sowing doubts internationally about the United States’ ability to meet its promises.

Just two months after cinching a historic climate deal in Paris, the Obama administration is in damage-control mode thanks to the justices’ surprise 5-4 action Tuesday. The White House tried to downplay the effect of the ruling — but even some big supporters of Obama’s climate efforts said its impact could be devastating.

“This arbitrary roadblock does incalculable damage and undermines America's climate leadership,” California Gov. Jerry Brown said in a statement.

Brown, whose state previously implemented a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, has already vowed to keep up California’s climate efforts. But leaders of other states said Wednesday that they are halting work on complying with the EPA’s climate regulation for power plants until the Supreme Court makes a final ruling, which almost certainly won’t happen until after Obama leaves the White House.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/climate-ruling-fallout-barack-obama-219099#ixzz3zoEqlhRr