US Agency Drops Climate Rule, Sparking Debate

The United States agency that once focused on air quality has just removed a rule that said greenhouse gases endanger people. The decision was announced last month by the new administration, marking a big shift in how the country will handle climate issues.

The Ruling

• Agency Leader’s Statement
• Declared the rule a “religion” that forced people to follow expensive policies.

• Claimed it hurt business choices and called the move a major deregulatory step.

• Missing Elements
• No mention of protecting health or clean air.
• The rule was grounded in science linking rising temperatures to heat waves, wildfires, and floods that harm health and cost money for insurance and repairs.

Reactions

• Former Agency Leaders
• One expressed shock that an agency created by a Republican president now seems to attack the environment.
• Another criticized the agency for spending time in court for the fossil‑fuel industry instead of protecting people from pollution.

• International Context
• The U.S. left the Paris Agreement and missed a recent international meeting attended by nearly 200 countries.
• The U.S. remains the only major nation still pushing fossil fuels, while China and Europe invest in clean energy.

Scientific Consensus

Critics argue the new stance ignores climate science.

• The physics behind warming is clear and not a matter of opinion.
• Scientists assert that burning fossil fuels is the main cause of global warming.

Legal and Political Implications

• The administration hopes a conservative court will reverse a 2007 decision that allowed the agency to regulate greenhouse gases.
• The goal is to stop the agency from protecting air quality and health.

Ongoing Debate

The debate continues about whether the country should keep or drop rules that limit greenhouse gases. Many people worry that inaction will increase health problems and damage the economy.