US President Donald Trump has reversed a key Obama-era scientific ruling that underpins federal actions on curbing planet-warming gases. The so-called 2009 'endangerment finding' concluded that a range of greenhouse gases posed a threat to public health.
The White House described the reversal as the 'largest deregulation in American history', claiming it will reduce costs for automakers by connecting to cheaper vehicle production. Environmental groups, however, argue it's the most significant rollback on climate action yet, fearing it jeopardizes the fight against climate change.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump criticized the 2009 ruling as detrimental to the auto industry and suggested it led to higher prices for consumers.
Former President Barack Obama condemned the repeal, stating that it renders Americans more vulnerable to health risks and climate change, as it caters to the fossil fuel industry.
The Environmental Protection Agency's initial stance on greenhouse gases was made in 2009, categorizing them as harmful to human health. The agency's findings became central to federal efforts for emission control in subsequent years.
Experts fear that the rollback may not only escalate greenhouse gas emissions but also result in dire public health implications. Analysis suggests it might lead to 58,000 premature deaths and millions more asthma attacks.
Despite the touted economic savings from deregulation, many environmentalists remain skeptical, predicting that the consequences of reversing such regulations will far outweigh any financial benefits.
