The Trump Administration has reversed a key decision from the Obama Administration, reshaping the future of climate protection in the United States. The rule in question, known as the “endangerment finding,” served as the legal foundation for federal regulations for greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Now, under the Trump Administration, all greenhouse gas standards on vehicles have been eliminated. Even with prior regulations in place, transportation remained the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in America. The administration has called this move, “the Largest Deregulation in U.S. History” a claim that may be accurate, but one with consequences far from celebratory.
Supporters justify the rollback as a way to reduce costs for consumers, estimating a reduction of over $2,000. This argument appeals to everyday voters, but what are the real costs?
The lack of greenhouse gas regulation is pushing America down a dangerous path of irreversible climate change. The planet has warmed approximately 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit in the past 300 years, directly impacting climates, habitats, and environments all around the world. Further deregulation risks accelerating this trend.
Greenhouse gases and global warming directly increase public health risks. Studies have shown that with the current rate of the warming planet, exposure to wildfire smoke will kill 70,000 Americans every year starting in 2050. This will lead to 37 million more asthma attacks than what occurs today.
Increases in respiratory health problems are not the only health concerns climate change inflicts. According to the Center for Disease Control, warmer temperatures cause disease to spread at exponential rates. Mosquito-borne diseases have increased by 30%, heightening Americans’ susceptibility to life-threatening infections.
While these impacts will be felt nationwide, they will not be experienced equally. Low-income communities, disproportionately composed of women, particularly women of color, face greater exposure to environmental hazards and fewer resources to access medical care. Unable to get proper medical treatment, lower class Americans will be facing the terminal consequences of the deregulation at a much higher rate.
The harmful impacts of this deregulation is much greater than the cost cut on vehicles. Undermining the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), leaves the future climate at stake. Meaningful climate policy is essential to protect the planet, and to safeguard the health and dignity of the most vulnerable among us.
