Not only does the EPA have the authority to regulate car emissions under the Clean Air Act, it is now obliged to act. The EPA will almost certainly face further legal action if it doesn’t step up regulations.

The New York Times comments that the 5 to 4 decision by the Supreme Court is a serious rebuke to the Bush government, which has maintained that the EPA doesn’t have the right to regulate CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Now that the verdict is made, it is expected to have a broader impact on the debate over government effort to address global warming in the US.

The verdict will also influence a number of cases in federal courts, which have been held up in anticipation of the Court’s verdict. One of the cases is against the EPA refusing to regulate the CO2 emissions from power plants. States are now expected to proceed more aggressively into the regulatory vacuum of greenhouse gas regulation.

Further information:

NY-Times, 03-04-2007: “Justices Say E.P.A. Has Power to Act on Harmful Gases”

NY-Times, 03-04-2007: “Ruling Undermines Lawsuits Opposing Emissions Controls”