In a controversial move that has drawn sharp criticism from climate scientists and environmental experts, the Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to challenge the long-established understanding that greenhouse gases pose a danger to human health and welfare. This effort to reverse the "endangerment finding," which has been the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, represents a significant potential setback for climate policy [1].
The EPA's latest proposal aims to fundamentally alter how greenhouse gases are regulated by arguing that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases do not pose a threat to public health [2]. This move would effectively eliminate all greenhouse gas emission regulations, marking a dramatic shift in U.S. environmental policy.
Scientists have strongly contested this position, with many arguing that the government's new climate reports misrepresent their research. According to multiple scientists, recent Department of Energy reports "fundamentally misrepresent" climate research and omit crucial context [3].
The timing of this policy shift comes as climate impacts become increasingly evident across the globe. The European Union's forests, which have historically served as crucial carbon sinks absorbing approximately 10% of the continent's man-made emissions between 1990 and 2022, are showing signs of decline [4].
Meanwhile, international cooperation on climate action faces its own challenges. The European Union is grappling with strategic decisions regarding China's growing dominance in green technology, highlighting the complex interplay between climate policy and international relations [5].
- US says CO2 emissions aren’t harmful – climate science shows otherwise
- Trump’s EPA Wants to Pretend That Greenhouse Gases Aren’t a Threat to Human Health
- Scientists Say New Government Climate Report Twists Their Work
- Climate-protecting carbon sinks of EU forests are declining
- Can Europe and China Forge a Climate Connection?
