MAP Statement on Bucks County Climate Lawsuit Dismissal

Washington, D.C. – Linda Kelly, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of the National Association of Manufacturers, issued the following statement in response to Bucks County’s climate lawsuit dismissal.

“The decision to dismiss Bucks County’s climate lawsuit reflects the growing consensus among courts nationwide that these cases are legally unsound and counterproductive. Regulation of interstate and international greenhouse gas emissions is beyond the role of state law and must be governed by uniform federal law, both as a matter of constitutional federalism and under the Clean Air Act.

Courts continue to reject these claims because the claims improperly seek to assign liability for societal use of energy, a matter far beyond the scope of state law. The Pennsylvania state court ruling reaffirms that litigation is not a substitute for meaningful climate action, and we urge policymakers to focus on collaborative efforts that deliver real and lasting climate solutions.”