Trump’s EPA Aims to Overturn Key ‘Endangerment Finding’—What This Means for Climate Action

President Trump’s administration has recently suggested removing a significant scientific finding about greenhouse gases. This finding has long been vital for U.S. efforts to regulate emissions and tackle climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to revoke a 2009 declaration that states carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases can harm public health and wellbeing. This declaration has supported various climate regulations under the Clean Air Act, affecting cars, power plants, and other pollution sources.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin claims this removal could be the largest deregulation effort in U.S. history. He suggests that previous regulations hinder the economy and cost Americans money. Zeldin has criticized previous administrations for manipulating science and law to impose costly regulations.

Environmental groups have expressed deep concerns. They argue that as climate change leads to more severe weather events, dismissing greenhouse gas emissions as harmless is reckless. Christy Goldfuss, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated that the administration’s actions could threaten national safety and welfare.

The proposed changes will undergo a lengthy process, including public comments, before any final decision is made. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called the proposal alarming and emphasized the state’s commitment to reducing climate pollution regardless of federal actions.

Zeldin’s move is part of a broader plan to roll back numerous environmental regulations. In March, he called for a review of the endangerment finding, claiming it misleads the public about climate risks. Despite the political support for this plan, experts and legal analysts believe the legal basis for removing the finding may be tenuous at best. In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

Many former EPA leaders have voiced strong opposition to the proposed changes. Christine Todd Whitman, who led the EPA under President George W. Bush, argued that these actions contradict the agency’s mission to protect the environment and public health.

The stakes are high. Climate scientists warn that reversing this finding could hinder significant progress made over decades. Data shows that the last 12 years have been the hottest on record, with an increase in heat-related deaths and more frequent wildfires. Scott Saleska, a professor at the University of Arizona, compared removing the endangerment finding to a driver accelerating toward a cliff without braking.

In a crucial moment for environmental policy, the actions taken now could impact not only U.S. regulations but the global fight against climate change. Advocates for climate action emphasize that the science behind these regulations is more robust than ever and that moving backward could have dire consequences.

For further details, you can check this EPA climate change overview or look into the Environmental Defense Fund for updates on ongoing regulations and climate initiatives.

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