Climate Metric Ruling Threatens Policy Delays, Creates ‘Chaos’

A February court order stifling agency use of a key carbon cost metric has thrown federal climate action into a state of uncertainty, legal experts say.

The use of the Biden administration’s interim social cost of carbon estimate—used by agencies to calculate the monetary costs of impacts wrought by burning greenhouse gases—was barred by a Louisiana court this month, a victory for Louisiana, Texas, and eight other states that challenged the estimates.

It’s unlikely the injunction will withstand further court scrutiny, lawyers said. But if the restriction stays in place, it will have an “extraordinary effect,” according to Holland & ...