Climate Change: The EPA Has Gone Overboard (Full Debate)

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?

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

MODERATOR: John Donvan