The federal district court for the Eastern District of California denied the United States’ motion for a preliminary injunction enjoining enforcement of a California law (SB 1137) that prohibits the drilling of new oil and gas wells and the redrilling/deepening of existing wells within 3,200 feet of “sensitive receptors.” The court found that the U.S. did not demonstrate that it was likely to establish that SB 1137 is preempted because it conflicts with the Mineral Leasing Act and Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The court also found that the U.S. did not show that risk of irreparable injury was likely or that the requested injunction would prevent such an injury. The court cited the U.S.’s “substantial delay” in filing the lawsuit and the “speculative” nature of the impact the U.S. claimed SB 1137 would have on oil and gas leasing on federal lands.

Lawsuit brought by the United States challenging a California law that imposes setback restrictions on fossil fuel operations near "sensitive receptors."

United States v. California

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Federal Court Denied U.S. Request for Preliminary Injunction Blocking California Law Restricting Oil and Gas Drilling Near “Sensitive Receptors”

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

A ban is a legal action that prevents the sale or supply of a product or service, or that recalls a product from the market. Examples are bans on SF6, greenwashing, fossil fuel advertisement or single-use plastics.

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Air pollution involves harmful contaminants in the air, affecting both indoor and outdoor environments. It can lead to health issues like respiratory diseases and heart problems, and climate impacts such as global warming. Pollutants can damage plants, trees, habitats, and water bodies like rivers and lakes.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

Any compulsory, unrequited payment to the government levied on corporations or individuals. This can be for environmental reasons, such as introducing a Carbon tax to set a price that emitters must pay for the greenhouse gases they emit.

Activities of industries that extract natural resources, such as mining, oil, and gas, for commercial use.

Activities that involve planning, designing and building infrastructure, residential, and commercial structures.

This sector involves activities that impart knowledge and skills to individuals, including formal schooling, vocational training and educational support.

Activities of government agencies and institutions that provide public services, enforce laws and manage public resources.

Activities that relate to the production of goods and services from forests.

Federal Court Denied U.S. Request for Preliminary Injunction Blocking California Law Restricting Oil and Gas Drilling Near “Sensitive Receptors”

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Fossil fuel

Economic sector

Finance