The legal dispute centers on Vermont’s Climate Superfund Law, which was enacted to mandate polluters to pay for the cleanup of hazardous substances that contribute to climate change. The U.S. government contends that this state-level legislation oversteps the bounds of federal jurisdiction, arguing that environmental regulation should remain under the purview of federal agencies. Critics of the law express concerns that such state initiatives could lead to fragmented regulatory frameworks that complicate compliance for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions.

Supporters of Vermont’s law maintain that local governments must have the authority to address climate-related…