The Trump administration has officially announced its intention to revoke the 2009 endangerment finding, which has served as the central scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.This decision marks a significant shift in US climate policy, as the endangerment finding was established during the Obama administration to determine that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare.
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yaleclimateconnections.orgchicago.suntimes.comAt a White House ceremony, President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin presented the final rule to rescind this declaration.The endangerment finding underpins most climate regulations under the Clean Air Act, impacting motor vehicles, power plants, and other pollution sources that contribute to global warming.
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epa.govapnews.comThe administration claims that the repeal will alleviate regulatory burdens and save Americans significant costs, with estimates suggesting a potential savings of $1.3 trillion by eliminating what they term "crushing regulations." EPA press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the move could result in average savings of over $2,400 per vehicle for consumers, particularly for light-duty cars and trucks.
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apnews.compbs.orgEnvironmental advocates have condemned this decision, labeling it as the most aggressive rollback of climate regulations in US history.They argue that the repeal could lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions and more severe consequences for public health and safety, particularly as the impacts of climate change become more pronounced.
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yaleclimateconnections.orgchicago.suntimes.comLegal challenges to this regulatory rollback are anticipated, with environmental groups pledging to contest the administration's actions in court.Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice, characterized the repeal as an abandonment of the government's responsibility to protect citizens from climate-related disasters.
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yaleclimateconnections.orgpbs.orgThe endangerment finding was supported by extensive scientific research, which has only strengthened in the years since its implementation.The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reaffirmed earlier this year that the scientific basis for the finding remains valid, noting that the evidence for the harms caused by human-induced greenhouse gases is now beyond dispute.
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apnews.compbs.orgCritics of the repeal argue that it disregards legal and scientific precedents and poses long-term risks to both the environment and public health.Gina McCarthy, a former EPA administrator, described the actions of the Trump administration as reckless and harmful, emphasizing that the regulatory framework established by the endangerment finding is essential for mitigating climate change's adverse effects.
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chicago.suntimes.compbs.orgThe Supreme Court has previously upheld the endangerment finding, affirming that greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Clean Air Act.Since its establishment, courts have consistently rejected challenges to this scientific declaration, including a recent ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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chicago.suntimes.comapnews.comIn summary, the Trump administration's decision to repeal the endangerment finding represents a pivotal moment in US environmental policy, with potential ramifications for both regulatory frameworks and climate action efforts in the future.As legal battles loom and environmental advocates prepare to challenge this rollback, the debate over climate change regulation is set to intensify.
