--- title: Robert Redford: We Cannot Let SCOTUS Block Clean Power description: The Court's intervention in the Clean Power Plan was a big mistake—but we can take action while we wait canonical: https://time.com/4231875/robert-redford-climate-change/ author: Robert Redford article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-02-22T00:41:06.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:56:13.215Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Robert Redford: We Cannot Let SCOTUS Block Clean Power og:description: The Court's ruling was a huge mistake—but we can take action og:url: https://time.com/4231875/robert-redford-climate-change/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3036343b94e2f59f/69887e733c16395dc745c1d8/redford_headshot.jpg?branch=production&width=846&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 846 og:image:height: 476 og:image:alt: Robert Redford og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Robert Redford: We Cannot Let SCOTUS Block Clean Power twitter:description: The Court's ruling was a huge mistake—but we can take action twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3036343b94e2f59f/69887e733c16395dc745c1d8/redford_headshot.jpg?branch=production&width=846&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Robert Redford: We Cannot Let SCOTUS Block Clean Power > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=b8b2824a-e1b7-4848-931a-c38de2d8e8d5&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=b8b2824a-e1b7-4848-931a-c38de2d8e8d5&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=b8b2824a-e1b7-4848-931a-c38de2d8e8d5&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=b8b2824a-e1b7-4848-931a-c38de2d8e8d5&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: TIME Raw: Obama Says He Will Nominate Justice Scalia’s Replacement [Watch (HLS stream): TIME Raw: Obama Says He Will Nominate Justice Scalia’s Replacement](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/0diTzE7v.m3u8) (3:12)  _Published 2016-02-14_  by [Robert Redford](https://time.com/author/robert-redford/)  ## Robert Redford Feb 22, 2016 12:41 AM UTC  Marc Hom  by [Robert Redford](https://time.com/author/robert-redford/)  ## Robert Redford Feb 22, 2016 12:41 AM UTC How long do decisions live? The death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is a reminder of the precarious nature of life—and of decisions. I didn’t know Justice Scalia, though I know, as many of us do, what it is to lose a father, a colleague, a loved one. A sudden passing always shocks. My sympathies, like all Americans, go out to his family and dear ones. What was also sudden was how quickly our national conversation turned to a showdown over who will replace him. And that’s disheartening, because what’s being overlooked in the showdown are _all_ the decisions that need to be made once that person is confirmed! To me, one looming decision stands out: the fate of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan. The CPP seeks to make our energy system less wasteful and make our country stronger and more independent in the long run, but numerous industries and parties objected, hence lawsuits. Earlier this month, the Court, before Scalia’s death, made an unexpected and [highly controversial decision to intervene prematurely](http://www.forbes.com/sites/uhenergy/2016/02/18/the-supreme-court-suspends-obamas-clean-power-plan-changing-the-law-on-staying-put/#430d6ca96f0a) and put a temporary block on the plan. Eventually it could wind its way [back to the Court for a ruling](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/02/antonin-scalia-clean-power-plan-obama-climate-change/462807/), but in the meantime, there are no new CPP rules in effect. That decision is on the wrong side of history. It was a clear departure from how our courts normally handle government oversight. And I cringe at how we will have to answer to history. When our children and their children ask, “When the majority of Earth’s citizens—its scientists, military professionals, industrialists, and more— realized the threat of climate change was real, why didn’t you do more? Why did you delay?” Unfortunately, the answer at the moment is, “Because of the opinion of nine people.” Well, actually, five people (Scalia included)—four justices opposed the decision. The Court has been on the wrong side of History before, but never on a topic that directly affects the current lives of 7 billion people, and untold billions in the future. Extreme weather, desertification, ocean acidification and [climate-related military conflicts](http://www.thenation.com/article/syria-may-be-the-first-climate-change-conflict-but-it-wont-be-the-last/) are increasingly global mega-trends that disrupt entire countries in utterly unpredictable ways. That’s quite a list of consequences. But improbably, there is opportunity here. The climate crisis is the rarest of situations: one in which nearly everyone agrees and nearly everyone can win. Everyone agreeing? Yes. The biggest myth about the climate “debate” is that there is one. Serious-minded people are no longer debating: the US military, the reinsurance industry and COOs of Fortune 500 companies accept a changing climate as an inevitability that has to be accounted for in future battles and future business. The Pope frames the climate discussion as a deep moral imperative to care for the poor, the hungry, the disenfranchised. Even many investor-owned utilities are transitioning from coal to cleaner energy to protect shareholder interests. Despite the SCOTUS stay, they plan to continue the transition. But everyone winning? Also possible. If we face this crisis with intention and bravery we can make money and make a better world for our children and their children. Much of the progress in moving towards a low-carbon economy has been made not in courts, but in businesses and homes. Diverse companies—from Wal-Mart to Apple to Colgate Palmolive—reap financial rewards by treating carbon emissions as what they are: wasted money and wasted resources. Many American families save hundreds each month by converting their homes to solar energy. No matter when or how the Supreme Court rules, though, this moment ultimately isn’t about a court’s choices, it’s about people’s voices —namely whose voices get heard. It’s about whether the world’s population will cede decision-making to a tiny group of people, be they five members of a court, a company, or a country. Those five voices do matter, but 7 billion voices matter much more. What can those voices ask for? We can ask our mayors to take the lead in combatting climate change on a city-by-city basis. We can ask solar energy companies how much we can save by using solar in our homes. We can ask businesses—with our dollars as a mouthpiece—to continue their good work in greening their enterprises. We can ask the presidential candidates to clearly and transparently state their positions on climate change, a subject that has been mostly missing on the campaign trail, so those statements can be evaluated in this election. Supreme Court decisions live a long time. What lives longer? The future of humankind. The Court’s decision was on the wrong side of history, but it need not _determine_ history. We can be a chorus of 7 billion. I will be part of it. _Robert Redford is an actor, director and environmental activist._ ## Transcript Good evening, everybody. For almost 30 years, Justice Antonin " Nino" Scalia was a larger than life presence on the bench. A brilliant legal mind with an energetic style, an incisive wit, and colorful opinions. He influenced a generation of judges, lawyers, and students. And profoundly shaped the legal landscape. He will no doubt be remembered as one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve on the Supreme Court. Justice Scalia dedicated his life to the cornerstone of our democracy The rule of law. Tonight we honor his extraordinary service to our nation, and remember one of the towering legal figures of our time. And [ UNKNOWN ] was born in Trento, New Jersey to an italian immigrant family. After graduating from Georgetown university and Harvard law school. He worked at a law firm and taught law before entering a life of public service. He rose from Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Council, to the judge on the D. C. Circuit Court to Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. A devout Catholic. He was a proud father of nine children and grandfather to many loving grandchildren. Justice Scalia was both an avid hunter and an opera lover, a passion for music that he shared with his dear colleague and friend, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Michelle and I were proud to welcome him to the White House including, in 2012, for a State Dinner for Prime Minister David Cameron. And tonight we join his fellow justices in mourning this remarkable man. Obviously, today is a time to remember Just as Kolea's legacy. I plan to fulfill my constitutional responsibilities to nominate a successor in due time. There will be plenty of time for me to do so, and for the senate to fulfill it's responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote. These are responsibilities that I take seriously, as should everyone. They're bigger than any one party. They are about our democracy. They're about the institution to which Justice Scalia dedicated his professional life in making sure it continues to function as the beacon of justice that our founders envisioned. But at this moment, we most all, wanna think about his family. And Michelle and I join the nation in sending our deepest sympathies to Justice Scalia's wife Maureen and their loving family, a beautiful symbol of a life well lived. We thank them for sharing Justice Scalia with our country. God bless them all and God bless the United States of America. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4231875/robert-redford-climate-change/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4231875/robert-redford-climate-change/"},"headline":"Robert Redford: We Cannot Let SCOTUS Block Clean Power","datePublished":"2016-02-22T00:41:06.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:56:13.215Z","description":"The Court's intervention in the Clean Power Plan was a big mistake—but we can take action while we wait","url":"https://time.com/4231875/robert-redford-climate-change/","keywords":["climate change","Supreme Court","politics","World"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3036343b94e2f59f/69887e733c16395dc745c1d8/redford_headshot.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Robert Redford","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/robert-redford/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3036343b94e2f59f/69887e733c16395dc745c1d8/redford_headshot.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Robert Redford","caption":"","creditText":"Marc Hom","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/climate-change/","name":"climate change"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4231875/robert-redford-climate-change/","name":"Robert Redford: We Cannot Let SCOTUS Block Clean Power"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"TIME Raw: Obama Says He Will Nominate Justice Scalia’s Replacement","description":"","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/0diTzE7v/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-02-14T06:29:03.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/0diTzE7v.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4231875/robert-redford-climate-change/","duration":"PT3M12S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4231875/robert-redford-climate-change/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```