The republican government of Donald Trump is preparing to dismantle the legal axis that since 2009 has forced the United States to recognize the greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. The measure, which will be formalized on Thursday, will revoke the Dangerousness Determination adopted under the Democrat’s administration Barack Obama, cornerstone of federal policies regulating emissions from vehicles, power plants and oil operations.
The decision represents the most ambitious step in the regulatory offensive undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since the beginning of the second term of the Republican magnate. His team argues that the original ruling was drafted “in a defective manner” and that it imposed “disproportionate costs” on the economy.
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The White House maintains that the revocation will reduce regulatory burdens equivalent to 1.3 trillion dollars and will allow it to promote its energy recovery agenda, focused on the expansion of fossil fuels.
The 2009 ruling concluded that carbon dioxide, methane and four other greenhouse gases should be considered pollutants under the Clean Air Act. This criterion opened the door to regulate emissions in strategic sectors and became a pillar of US climate policy for more than a decade.
Its elimination would open the door to removing limits for automobiles and weakening regulations on coal and gas plantsin line with the executive order “Unlock American Energy,” signed by the conservative president in January when declaring a “national energy emergency”.
They question scientific foundations
The EPA has also questioned the scientific basis of the ruling, alleging exaggerated projections of extreme heat and underestimation of benefits from the carbon dioxide. Several conservative groups celebrate this vision, believing that the government has overestimated the national impact on a global phenomenon.
On the contrary, scientific and environmental organizations, cited by US media, warn that the agency relies on “incomplete” and “selective” analyses, despite the fact that recent records show levels greenhouse gas record and a greater recurrence of extreme weather events.
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The annulment, however, is far from being definitive. Subsequent legislation—such as Inflation Reduction Law— reaffirms that greenhouse gases are polluting, which complicates the legal maneuver. Environmental groups are already preparing court challenges and anticipate prolonged litigation.
As the administration advances its strategy, the political and legal confrontation promises to intensify. For detractors, the dismantling of the 2009 determination constitutes the biggest climate setback in American history.
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