Statement on the June 30 U.S. Supreme Court Decision

Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in West Virginia v. EPA that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency clear authority to mandate that power companies transition from coal to other power sources that emit fewer greenhouse gases. This ruling will have significant and far-reaching implications for the role of the federal government and the states in setting environmental policy. 

While this issue will surely play out in federal and state politics, one thing is clear: the risks associated with climate change are not going away. And investors — particularly younger, more green-conscious investors — know this. The trend lines prove that these investors want their investment dollars to make a difference. In the absence of consistent guidance from federal and state authorities, it will be up to individual companies in the private sector to decide whether they want to be leaders or laggards, and to act accordingly, including making credible, enforceable commitments to green leadership and green follow-through in everything that they do.

We at the Green Impact Exchange believe in the power of markets to allocate capital where it is needed most. Now, more than ever.