And that’s only the start. Many of the government’s climate strategies were also protected by the Chevron deference. Over the last 40 years, countless decisions have been made by agencies on topics like carbon emissions, renewable energy, and climate resilience. With polar bears’ most threatened by melting sea ice caused by carbon emissions warming the Arctic, these decisions helped start us down the path towards building a better climate for polar bears and people alike.

With the Supreme Court having now eliminated the Chevron deference, federal agencies’ abilities to push forward conservation and climate action are significantly weakened. Polar bear experts no longer necessarily have the last say on polar bear conservation, and climate experts might no longer be able to take the lead in pushing forward climate action. With the Chevron deference gone, the future of polar bears is more uncertain. 

“Whether it’s wildlife conservation, climate, clean water, and air, or even the safety of our foods and medicines, the current Supreme Court just reversed 40 years of precedence that was the foundation for how much of our government and policy-making work in the United States. Its importance, or the loss of it, cannot be overstated,” says Geoff York, Polar Bears International’s senior director of research and policy.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. The Chevron deference’s overturning demonstrates the real importance of voting and the impact we can all have. Clearly, the nine Supreme Court justices have massive influence over the interpretation of U.S. law. Those justices serve for life, and it’s up to the president to appoint them with advice and consent from the Senate. While U.S. citizens don’t directly choose the Supreme Court, court of appeal, or district judges, they elect the president who does. By voting for candidates that support climate action and conservation, U.S. citizens can help ensure Supreme Court justices share those values when the time comes for new ones to be selected. That means the legacy of their votes could last decades!

We need climate action to create a safe future for people and polar bears. As the 2024 election gets closer, the loss of the Chevron deference provides yet another example of why voting for candidates who will act on climate change is more crucial than ever. Since polar bears can’t vote, it’s up to us to do so instead. 

Alex Shahbazi is an environmental policy, programs, & research consultant. He is an avid conservationist, writer, and advocate. Alex currently helps manage the Study of Environmental Arctic Change, an Arctic co-production research program, and assists Polar Bears International in their policy and advocacy work.