WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is expected this week to reverse a scientific finding that has long formed the basis for U.S. regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and efforts to combat climate change, according to a White House official.
The Environmental Protection Agency will issue a final rule rescinding a 2009 government declaration known as the endangerment finding, which determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose risks to public health and welfare.
According to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement, the changes were first reported by the Wall Street Journal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, This week, President Trump will be implementing the most significant deregulatory actions in history to enable American energy dominance and reduce costs.
The endangerment finding serves as the legal foundation for nearly all climate regulations under the Clean Air Act pertaining to motor vehicles and pollution sources exacerbating global warming. These regulations aim to protect against increasingly severe threats caused by climate change — including extreme heat, deadly floods, and natural disasters.
Legal challenges are anticipated in response to any actions that roll back these regulations, with environmental groups deeming this shift a historic assault on federal efforts to address climate change.
An EPA spokesperson reaffirmed that while the timeline for revoking the finding was not clearly stated, a new rule is in the works. Brigit Hirsch expressed via email that the Obama-era rule was among the most detrimental decisions in modern history, asserting that the EPA is actively working to deliver a historic action for the American people.
Trump has long dismissed climate change as a hoax and previously issued an executive order mandating the EPA to review the legality of the endangerment finding. Conservative factions have continuously sought to overturn what they see as overly restrictive regulations.
In contrast, climate experts argue that such an action would encourage greater pollution and exacerbate public health challenges, with health insurance and fuel costs likely rising significantly.
Critics, including lawyer Peter Zalzal of the Environmental Defense Fund, have warned that repealing the endangerment finding disregards substantial scientific evidence regarding climate change's impacts.
As the debate intensifies, the implications of the Trump administration's potential rollback could signify a dramatic shift in how climate change is addressed in the United States, as reiterated by various experts nationwide.
