The Trump administration has taken decisive steps to roll back significant climate change regulations established during President Barack Obama's tenure.This includes the highly contentious repeal of the "endangerment finding," which classified greenhouse gases as threats to public health and welfare, a move labeled as the "single largest deregulatory action in US history" by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
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ms.nowOn March 12, 2025, during a press conference, Zeldin announced a series of 31 historic actions aimed at advancing President Trump's executive orders, which are intended to unleash American energy and lower living costs for families.
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epa.govThe sweeping deregulation efforts are seen as a direct attack on the so-called "climate change religion," with Zeldin asserting that the administration's actions will drive down costs for American families and revive the auto industry.
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epa.govThe White House has characterized the Clean Power Plan, a cornerstone of Obama's climate policy, as an overreach.
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climate.law.columbia.eduThe plan aimed for a 32% reduction in carbon emissions from power plants by 2030 but has faced legal challenges and has never been fully implemented.
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theguardian.comThe Trump administration's new strategy allows states to develop their own plans for reducing emissions, which critics argue will lead to insufficient reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
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theguardian.comEnvironmental advocates have condemned these rollbacks, warning that they will have dire consequences for public health and the environment.Senator Chuck Schumer warned that the repeal of greenhouse gas regulations would negatively impact every community in America, particularly affecting children with asthma and homeowners facing extreme weather events.
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ms.nowIn stark contrast, President Trump has dismissed concerns over climate change, calling it a "hoax" and asserting that the previous regulations were merely a scam.
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ms.nowThe administration's approach has been met with promises of legal action from various states, including New York's Attorney General Letitia James, who described the deregulation as detrimental to the nation's fight against climate change.
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theguardian.comThe implications of these regulatory changes extend beyond environmental concerns.Critics highlight the potential for increased pollution, which could lead to an estimated 1,400 premature deaths annually by 2030 due to worsening air quality from coal-fired power plants.
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theguardian.comThe rollback is expected to exacerbate health issues such as asthma and could destabilize insurance markets as extreme weather events become more frequent.
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ms.nowAs the administration moves forward with its deregulatory agenda, the broader impacts on the economy and public health remain at the forefront of the discussion.Environmental groups have vowed to challenge the changes in court, viewing them as a significant setback in the fight against climate change and a threat to public health.
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ms.nowtheguardian.comThe Trump administration's aggressive dismantling of climate regulations has elicited a strong backlash from both environmental advocates and political leaders, who argue that the long-term effects on health, safety, and the environment could be devastating.As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, the battle over climate policy remains a critical issue for the future of the United States.
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theguardian.comclimate.law.columbia.eduWith the Trump administration recommitting to its deregulatory ambitions, the implications for climate policy and environmental protection will be closely monitored in the coming years.
