How Will Trump's Supreme Court Pick Affect the Environment?

Whether you’re a fan of him or not, there’s one thing for sure – Donald Trump has started his presidency with a bang. Signing executive orders to build walls, dismantle Obamacare and ban immigration from certain countries, the far-right political novice has certainly stuck to his promises, however damaging they may be.

But also part of his first few weeks in office has been choosing who should fill all the important governmental roles. And following Antonin Scalia’s death in 2016, a vacant seat was left in the US Supreme Court. President Trump has nominated Neil Gorsuch to take the seat. But how could this decision affect the environment?

Supreme Court

For those who don’t know, the US Supreme Court is highest court in the United States. It has the ultimate say on all cases involving federal law as well as having original jurisdiction over some cases. The Court is made up of the Chief Justice and eight associates – nominated by the president. If confirmed by the Senate, Neil Gorsuch will be one of those eight and will have a lifelong tenure unless he resigns or retires.

Getting to know Neil Gorsuch

With a degree from Harvard Law School, Gorsuch has a similar background to most other Supreme Court members. He has previously worked as a federal judge, most recently serving on Denver’s Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. But unlike Trump’s other top choices, he has links to some seemingly positive causes – his mother worked under Reagan for two years as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

However, according to Tiernan Sittenfeld – Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the League of Conservation Voters – Gorsuch is “radical and dangerous”. One of the biggest policies of Obama’s administration – the Clean Power Plan – was stayed by the Supreme Court last year, and is due to be heard again by the Court in the near future.

The Clean Power Plan restricts the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by energy production, instead encouraging cleaner energy sources like solar and wind. According to Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, Gorsuch is more likely to vote against such environmentally conscious plans. “Gorsuch is a friend of fossil fuel companies and a foe of workers, the disabled, and the environment,” asserted McKibben.

The Clean Water Act

Another big topic for the US Supreme Court will be Obama’s extension of the Clean Water Act. Introduced in 1972, the act protects the nation’s water bodies, but was extended by Obama in 2015 with the Clean Water Rule, which precisely defines streams and smaller water bodies as part of the Act, by extension.

The Clean Water Act aims to prevent businesses from polluting nearby water, but has been subject to a lot of criticism since its extension. Water pollution is a growing problem. In fact, some waters are thought to be even more polluted than tests say. And it’s important now more than ever that the US is working to reduce the problem, not repealing important laws.