The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has effectively dismantled key greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards, reversing decades of climate policy in what the agency itself describes as its “single largest deregulatory action.” This move not only eliminates incentives for fuel-saving technologies like automatic stop/start in vehicles but also strikes at the core legal foundation for regulating GHG emissions across multiple sectors.
The End of the “Endangerment Finding”
At the heart of the rollback is the EPA’s decision to rescind the 2009 “Endangerment Finding.” This critical determination, made under the Obama administration, established that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose a clear risk to public health and welfare. The Finding was the legal basis for implementing federal GHG emission standards, including those applied to the automotive industry, power plants, and oil/gas operations.
Why it matters: Without the Endangerment Finding, the EPA loses its primary legal authority to regulate GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act. This creates significant uncertainty for future climate policies and potentially undermines the US’s ability to meet international commitments.
The EPA maintains that the rollback will affect only GHG emissions, leaving regulations for criteria pollutants (like smog-forming gases) and toxic air contaminants untouched. However, critics argue this distinction is misleading, as the broader framework for environmental protection is being weakened.
The Impact on Emissions & Industry
Under the Obama administration, the US saw substantial declines in greenhouse gas emissions. Between 2005 and 2020, GHG emissions fell by 10 percent overall, with power sector emissions dropping by 27 percent. Total energy-related CO2 emissions also decreased by 12 percent during this period. The EPA’s rollback reverses this trend, allowing automakers to abandon fuel-saving technologies like auto stop/start without penalty.
The EPA claims consumers will benefit from a $2,400 price decrease per vehicle, but clean air advocates warn that the long-term costs to public health and the environment outweigh any short-term savings.
Conrad Schneider, senior director at the Clean Air Task Force, stated the administration is “needlessly putting the health of millions of Americans at risk… placing its bets on cost savings instead of evidence-based public health and climate benefits.”
A Broader Trend of Deregulation
This action is part of a wider effort to dismantle environmental regulations under the Trump administration. EPA head Lee Zeldin has framed the rollback as eliminating “16 years of consumer choice restrictions and trillions of dollars in hidden costs for Americans.”
The bigger picture: The EPA’s decision reflects a deliberate shift away from climate action, prioritizing short-term economic gains over long-term environmental sustainability. This move not only jeopardizes US climate goals but also sends a signal to other nations that the US is retreating from global climate leadership.
The long-term consequences of these rollbacks are still unfolding, but one thing is clear: the EPA has fundamentally altered the landscape of climate regulation in the United States.
