Climate Change: The EPA Has Gone Overboard

Reducing carbon emissions is clearly good for the environment but often imposes substantial costs.  The costs are most obvious when coal companies go bankrupt, but can affect everyone indirectly through higher energy costs, slower economic growth, reduced employment, and lower business profits.   Has the Environmental Protection Agency considered the costs and benefits of its regulatory mandates fairly and appropriately? Is its Clean Power Plan a bold initiative to reduce carbon pollution at power plants, or an unconstitutional usurpation of power?

In this debate from Intelligence Squared US, teams argue for and against the motion: Is the EPA reaching too far in its efforts to prevent climate change?

For The Motion

• Charles McConnell: Executive Director, Rice University’s Energy and Environment Initiative
• Michael Nasi: Environmental and Energy Lawyer & Partner, Jackson Walker LLP

Against The Motion

• Carl Pope: Former Executive Director, Sierra Club & Strategic Advisor to Michael Bloomberg
• Jody Freeman: Founding Director, Harvard Law School Environmental Law and Policy Program

Airs Sunday, September 18 at 12pm on AM820 and NJPR