California Attorney General Rob Bonta is stepping up the fight against the Trump administration’s rollbacks on environmental protections. Speaking during New York Climate Week, Bonta said California plans to keep suing over actions that break the law and harm the state’s people and environment. So far, the state has filed more than one lawsuit per week and expects to file even more.
Bonta’s main goal is to push back on the administration’s efforts to boost fossil fuel production and dismiss climate science. He criticized moves to undo policies put in place by the Biden administration and highlighted the importance of following the law, especially the rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.
One big issue is the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to cancel a 2009 ruling that says greenhouse gas emissions are a threat to public health. This ruling forms the legal basis for federal limits on emissions. Bonta co-led a group of 23 state attorneys general and local leaders to oppose the EPA’s proposal. With the public comment period now closed, the EPA could finalize the rollback soon, opening up the door for more lawsuits.
When asked about the possibility of taking this fight all the way to the Supreme Court, Bonta said his office will weigh the risks carefully. A Supreme Court ruling in favor of the EPA could make it harder for future administrations to regulate emissions. Still, Bonta said California is ready to use the courts to stop unlawful actions.
Bonta is also focused on the plastic recycling issue. He revealed that California might bring another lawsuit targeting misleading claims about plastic recycling. In September 2024, Bonta sued Exxon Mobil, accusing the oil giant of deceiving consumers about how much plastic waste actually gets recycled. Exxon pushed back with its own lawsuit, accusing Bonta of defamation and suggesting he had ties to a rival company. Bonta remains confident in his case, which is based on extensive investigations.
The attorney general also mentioned concerns about ultra-processed foods. These highly engineered packaged foods have been blamed for health problems like childhood obesity. While Bonta has not launched any investigations yet, he said this issue is on his radar and that any action will be based on solid science.
Throughout, Bonta’s message is clear: California will keep fighting to protect the environment and public health, no matter the legal road ahead. The state sees these battles as crucial in the fight against climate change and corporate misinformation.