The fossil fuel industry took a blow last week when a federal judge ordered a halt to oil and gas exploration on almost 500 square miles in Wyoming, stating that the US government must account for its cumulative effect on global climate change. The order marks the latest in a string of court rulings over the past decade that has faulted the US for inadequate consideration of greenhouse gas emissions when approving oil, gas and coal projects on federal land.
The decision blocks federal officials from issuing drilling permits until they conduct a new environmental review looking more closely at greenhouse gas emissions. This is a huge win for the environment, bearing in mind that the carbon footprint from fossil fuel extraction from federal land alone amounts to 1.4 billion tons annually.
