Trump's Climate Change Rollback: A Step Back for America

The U.S. government has taken a significant step back in its efforts to address climate change. The Trump administration has reversed a longstanding scientific conclusion that greenhouse gas emissions pose a serious threat to public health and welfare. This decision, known as the repeal of the endangerment finding, is one of the biggest environmental rollbacks in U.S. history.

The Endangerment Finding

The endangerment finding, established in 2009, was based on decades of scientific research. It concluded that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. The repeal of this finding is a clear rejection of science and a move that has been condemned by experts and scientists alike.

Reactions from Experts

The Environmental Protection Network, a bipartisan group of former EPA staff and appointees, described the move as:

"Unprecedented and dangerous."

Joseph Goffman, a former assistant administrator of the EPA Office of Air and Radiation, called it:

"A fundamental betrayal of EPA’s responsibility to protect human health."

Impact of the Decision

The decision to repeal the endangerment finding is not just a rejection of science. It is also a rejection of efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to clean energy. The transportation sector is the single largest source of heat-trapping emissions in the United States. The repeal will lead to:

• Worse air quality
• Billions in healthcare costs tied to increased asthma attacks, heart disease, and other pollution-related issues

Opposition and Support

The decision has drawn formal opposition from:

• More than 50 U.S. cities
• Nearly two dozen states, including California

Support for the plan came from:

• Industry groups
• Groups geared toward free markets and regulatory reform

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce favored the repeal, stating that greenhouse gas vehicle standards that rest on the endangerment finding are:

"Enormously costly and ultimately unachievable" and amount to "regulatory overreach."

Conclusion

The Trump administration's decision to repeal the endangerment finding is a clear indication that it is prioritizing the interests of the fossil fuel industry over the health and welfare of everyday Americans. It is a decision that will have serious consequences for the environment, public health, and the U.S. economy.