US Judge Strikes Down Biden Administration’s Climate Rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Legal challenge to climate rule
A U.S. judge in Texas has invalidated a climate rule introduced by the Biden administration that required states to monitor and set decreasing targets for greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles using the national highway system.
Supporting arguments against the rule
Texas filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), claiming that the agency did not have the legal authority to implement the rule. Additionally, 21 other states also filed a separate lawsuit challenging the regulation.
Ruling on the case
U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, appointed by former President Donald Trump, sided with Texas, stating that he agreed with the state’s argument that the rule was unauthorized.
Key points of the rule
The rule, issued by the DOT’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in December, mandated states to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and establish declining carbon dioxide targets. The goal was to track progress in reducing emissions over time.
Response from the transportation sector
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended the rule, stating that it provided states with a framework to monitor carbon pollution and set climate targets while allowing flexibility in target setting.
Legal implications and criticism
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized the rule, pledging to fight against what he called “unlawful climate mandates.” A group of 21 states also challenged the regulation in Kentucky, with the lawsuit still pending.
Historical context
In 2018, the Trump administration repealed a similar rule issued under former President Barack Obama, which required states to track greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles on the nation’s highways.
