A shameful Supreme Court decision and a threat to clean water

The Supreme Court has again put the interests of corporate polluters over the health and safety of our people and planet.

Their most recent decision has limited the power of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate wetlands and waterways, dealing yet another blow to the agency's authority in combating pollution.

Washington Post: Supreme Court weakens EPA power to enforce Clean Water Act

The case centered on the interpretation of the Clean Water Act and the definition of "waters of the United States" that fall under its protection.

For decades, the Clean Water Act has prohibited discharging pollutants into all waterways, not just navigable waters but wetlands as well.

The majority opinion argued that the Clean Water Act only applies to wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies of water that are "indistinguishable" from those waters, meaning many wetlands, including all bogs, are now at risk of being contaminated or destroyed.

Wetlands play an important role in climate regulation and carbon mitigation. They store large amounts of carbon in their vegetation and soil, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Wetlands are a nature-based solution to extreme weather events and droughts. During heavy rains, wetlands swell to hold more water like a sponge. Then, during droughts, they become an oasis for life, enabling plants to photosynthesize and continue to draw carbon dioxide out of the air and manufacture carbohydrates into biomass and soils.

They are also some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Wetlands support a wide variety of plant and animal species, many of which are rare or endangered.

Additionally, wetlands play a vital role in maintaining water quality and protecting human health, acting as natural filters for water. They trap and retain sediments, pollutants, and excess nutrients from the surrounding land, preventing them from entering lakes, rivers, and coastal areas.

This Supreme Court decision to remove protection from so many wetlands caves to polluters who care more about profit than the health of local ecosystems. Shame on them.

This is a setback that underscores the point that leaders matter.

That's why Global Warming Solutions is committed to supporting climate champions who understand how carbon and water cycles through ecosystems and fight for environmental protection.

The majority of Americans recognize the poisoning of wetlands as a major threat. We must make known the dire consequences of the Supreme Court's decision and together protect the planet we call home.

More soon,

Rob