Trump administration undermines EPA enforcement of Clean Air Act

After signalling its intentions for several months, the Donald Trump administration has formally rescinded the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 “endangerment finding,” a determination that concluded greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane pose a danger to public health and welfare.

The 2009 finding provided the legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Currently, the newly announced rule change applies only to tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks. However, it is widely expected to be the first in a series of revisions atofederal air pollution standards. 

Despite today’s announcement, the repeal process is not yet complete. The EPA must follow a formal regulatory procedure before the original finding can be fully undone. Notably, it took approximately two years for the agency to establish the endangerment finding after its initial implementation.

The decision, led by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, is projected to slow emissions reductions by roughly 10%, according to Axios. While that shift is meaningful, analysts suggest it is unlikely to reverse the overall downward trend in emissions fully. One contributing factor is the continued growth of low-cost renewable energy sources, which have accounted for a large share of newly installed electricity-generation capacity in recent years.

Environmental advocates criticised the move. Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defence Fund, said in a statement, “This action will only lead to more pollution, and that will lead to higher costs and real harms for American families.”

Climate researchers warn that unchecked global warming carries substantial economic and public health risks. Studies indicate that climate change could increase mortality rates in the United States by around 2% and reduce global gross domestic product by an estimated 17% by 2050 — a potential economic loss of approximately $38 trillion.