Massachusetts is one of two-dozen states suing the Environmental Protection Agency over greenhouse gases.
The EPA recently rescinded a 2009 Endangerment Policy that said those gases, including carbon dioxide, are harmful to people's health.
The lawsuit claims the rollback overturns longstanding scientific consensus and breaks the law.
Massachusetts is joined by Connecticut and Rhode Island.
“Climate change is real, and it’s already affecting our residents and our economy,” said AG Andrea Campbell. “When the federal government abandons the law and the science, everyday people suffer the consequences. As a mom, I want my boys – and every child in our state – to grow up breathing clean air and playing safely outdoors. Massachusetts has long led the way in protecting our communities from the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions and we are proud to stand up once again to lead this fight for our future.”
“This Administration is nothing if not consistent in its attempts to make life much harder for the vast majority of Americans,” said RI Attorney General Peter Neronha. “For decades, HUD has worked in tandem with state agencies to root out discriminatory housing practices. We know this President isn’t guided by morality but by perceived political expedience. Even so, it’s hard to wrap one’s mind around why he thinks making it harder for Americans to obtain housing would fit into that category. HUD’s new guidance ignores the states’ right to enact laws that make sense for its residents and unlawfully attempts to hold hostage federal funding from those who don’t capitulate. There are few things more important than housing, and we will fight to make sure these longstanding protections stay intact.”
EPA officials say the agency is bound by laws set by Congress, including the Clean Air Act, adding that Congress never meant for the EPA to regulate car and truck emissions.
(Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
Photo: Apu Gomes / Getty Images News / Getty Images