Trump Government Pushes to Roll Back Significant Decision Supporting Regulations for Greenhouse Gas Emanations under Trump Administration Guidance
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding, a decision that could have far-reaching implications. This finding, which underpins over $1 trillion in GHG regulations across various sectors, includes vehicle emission standards and electric vehicle mandates.
If finalized, the proposal would effectively deregulate GHG emissions in the motor vehicle and engine sector, removing emissions standards for new vehicles. This move signals a rollback of climate regulation efforts and could lead to increased emissions from vehicles, potentially undermining U.S. commitments to reduce greenhouse gases and transition to cleaner transportation.
The EPA justifies this decision as a means to relieve burdens on small businesses, potentially saving at least $170 billion and more than $54 billion annually. The move is also seen as restoring consumer choice in vehicle purchases and reducing living costs tied to transportation and delivery. Proponents, including some state officials and industry groups, praise the move as the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history, aimed at economic relief and regulatory certainty.
However, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and public health advocates. They view the move as a drastic step that needlessly puts the health of millions of Americans at risk. Greenpeace USA Climate Campaign Director, John Noël, described the announcement as "just one more handout from Trump to Big Oil." The Natural Resources Defense Council has pledged to fight the EPA's plan in court if necessary.
The EPA's proposal raises concerns about the scientific underpinnings of the Endangerment Finding, arguing that the global warming projections underlying it are unduly pessimistic. The agency plans to publish a final rule backed by scientific justification following a comment period.
If finalized, the proposal would remove all GHG standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and heavy-duty engines. It could also impact GHG regulations in sectors like power generation and the oil and gas sector, potentially undoing regulations with an aggregate cost of $1 trillion.
The 2009 Endangerment Finding found that GHG emissions endanger public health and welfare. The new move could potentially impact efforts to address climate change and federal climate policies, leading to increased pollution and harm to public health.
The EPA's proposal aims to reverse a long-standing decision that greenhouse gases and climate change threaten public health. The decision, if finalized, would remove the U.S. government's ability to regulate GHG emissions from carbon-intensive industries, sparking controversy and legal challenges. The proposal is subject to public comment and further regulatory processes before any final decision.
- The proposal by the EPA to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, which is a cornerstone of environmental-science policies, could have profound implications on policy-and-legislation regarding climate-change.
- The removal of all GHG standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles and engines, as suggested in the EPA's proposal, raises concerns about the potential increase in pollution and harm to public health, contradicting the 2009 Endangerment Finding that identified GHG emissions as a threat to public health.
- The politics surrounding the EPA's proposal to deregulate GHG emissions in the motor vehicle and engine sector have ignited a debate, with proponents citing economic relief and regulatory certainty, while critics, including environmental groups and public health advocates, argue that it needlessly risks the health of millions of Americans and undermines efforts to address climate change.
