Editor’s note: There will be no Daily Brief on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. |
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UN Calls U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Climate Policy a ‘Setback’ |
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled (AP) to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to curb carbon emissions from power plants in what a UN spokesperson said was a “setback in our fight against climate change.” The decision casts doubt on whether the United States, the world’s second-largest emitter, can achieve pledges made under international climate agreements. It also prompted China, the top emitter, to urge the United States to do more on climate (Reuters).
In the 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court majority suggested that federal agencies cannot set broad regulations (NPR) unless mandated to do so by Congress. However, Congress hasn’t been able to pass stand-alone climate legislation for two decades. The ruling does not entirely ban federal regulations of the energy sector, and U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to work around it.
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“The [Supreme Court] decision would be more understandable if Congress had the consensus & the expertise to act on climate. But it has neither. The result is much reduced regulation, which will undermine US ability to act responsibly at home & lead effectively abroad on climate change,” CFR President Richard Haass tweets.
“In order [for the U.S. to meet its climate targets], most experts say that the United States would need a combination of new legislation and aggressive regulations on the most polluting sectors of industry—vehicles, power plants, and oil and drilling wells. This decision takes one of those tools and makes it far less effective,” the New York Times’ Coral Davenport writes.
This Backgrounder looks at international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. |
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Australian PM Visits Paris to Mend Ties |
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the visit will mark a “new dawn” (SMH) in Australia-France relations, which were rocked by last year’s announcement of a new security partnership involving Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, known as AUKUS.
New Zealand: The country designated two U.S.-based far-right groups, the Proud Boys and the Base, as terrorist organizations (RNZ).
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India’s Ruling Party Forms Alliance to Regain Control of Second-Largest State |
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) agreed to form a new administration (FT) in India’s second-most-populous state with breakaway lawmakers from a regional Hindu nationalist party.
Afghanistan: Human rights groups and residents in a rural area of Sar-e Pol Province said Taliban members carried out (Radio Azadi) extrajudicial executions in a campaign against a dissident commander.
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Middle East and North Africa |
Indonesia, UAE Sign Trade Agreement |
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West African Bloc to Weigh Stances on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali |
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Russia Begins Trial of Detained U.S. Basketball Star |
White House officials have called the detention of Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner wrongful and unjust since Russian authorities arrested (CNN) her in February on drug charges.
Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey could reimpose a veto (FT) on Sweden’s candidacy for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if the country does not deport seventy-three people Ankara accuses of terrorism.
This In Brief looks at how NATO will change if Sweden and Finland become members. |
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Ecuadorian Government, Indigenous Groups Reach Deal to End Protests |
Indigenous demonstrators ended their eighteen-day strike (AP), during which they blocked critical roads, after Ecuador’s government agreed to increase fuel subsidies and change some of its policies on oil and mining exploration.
U.S./Venezuela: A U.S. envoy met with Venezuelan officials (CNN) regarding eight Americans the U.S. government considers wrongfully detained but was unable to secure their release.
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The New York Times tells how the people of Queen’s Road, Hong Kong’s most famous street, have watched the city transform in the twenty-five years since the handover to China. |
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