The Trump administration is poised to revoke a critical scientific finding that has served as the foundation for US climate change policy for over a decade.According to a White House official, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will issue a final rule rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding, which determined that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide pose a threat to public health and welfare.
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pbs.orgctmirror.orgWhite House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "This week at the White House, President Trump will be taking the most significant deregulatory actions in history to further unleash American energy dominance and drive down costs." This move is part of a broader strategy to dismantle regulations that the administration views as overly restrictive and economically damaging.
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whitehouse.govctmirror.orgThe endangerment finding is crucial as it underpins nearly all climate regulations under the Clean Air Act.This includes standards for vehicle emissions and power plant operations, which are designed to mitigate the escalating threats posed by climate change, such as severe floods, heat waves, and wildfires.
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pbs.orginquirer.comEnvironmental groups have condemned the anticipated action, labeling it as the most significant assault on federal climate initiatives in US history.
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ctmirror.orgLegal challenges are expected to arise if the administration proceeds with this repeal, as opponents argue that it contradicts established scientific consensus and regulatory precedent.
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inquirer.comCritics like Peter Zalzal from the Environmental Defense Fund assert that the EPA's actions could lead to increased pollution and higher health care costs, along with thousands of preventable deaths.
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pbs.orgFormer Republican congressman Lee Zeldin, appointed by Trump to lead the EPA, has criticized previous administrations for what he sees as economically harmful climate regulations.He claims that the endangerment finding allows for excessive regulation that could stifle significant sectors of the economy.
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ctmirror.orgZeldin argues that the Democrats' regulations "cost Americans a lot of money," framing the repeal as a necessary move for economic growth.
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inquirer.comIn contrast, scientific assessments following Zeldin's proposal have reaffirmed the validity of the endangerment finding.The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently concluded that the evidence supporting the finding is robust and has only strengthened over time.The panel emphasized that "the evidence for current and future harm to human health and welfare created by human-caused greenhouse gases is beyond scientific dispute.".
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ctmirror.orgThe Supreme Court's 2007 ruling in Massachusetts v.EPA established that greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Clean Air Act, reinforcing the legal basis for the endangerment finding.This ruling has been upheld in subsequent judicial decisions, including a 2023 verdict from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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ctmirror.orginquirer.comAs the Trump administration embarks on this deregulatory path, the implications for both environmental policy and public health are significant.The move has raised alarms among environmental advocates, who warn that it could exacerbate the climate crisis and undermine years of regulatory progress.
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pbs.orginquirer.comThe impending changes reflect a broader ideological divide over climate policy in the US, with the Trump administration emphasizing economic growth and energy independence over environmental protection.As this situation unfolds, the interplay between regulatory action and scientific evidence will be crucial in shaping the future of climate policy in America.
