Climate scientists push back as Trump administration seeks to weaken EPA authority
A group of U.S. scientists is working quickly to counter a federal report that downplays fossil fuel risks and could help dismantle the legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
Dharna Noor reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Climate scientists, led by Texas A&M’s Andrew Dessler, are organizing a public comment to rebut a Department of Energy report that questions the dangers of fossil fuels and supports ending the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gases.
- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine launched a self-funded, fast-tracked review of greenhouse gas impacts on human health, aiming to deliver its findings before the EPA finalizes its decision.
- The Trump administration has deleted climate data from government websites and removed agency officials, prompting watchdog groups to safeguard and repost public science data.
Key quote:
“Attacks on science are dangerous because they erode one of society’s most effective tools for understanding the world and making decisions in the public interest.”
— Andrew Dessler, climate researcher at Texas A&M University
Why this matters:
Climate science is a cornerstone of environmental regulation in the U.S., especially under the Clean Air Act, which allows the EPA to act when pollutants endanger public health. Fossil fuel emissions — particularly carbon dioxide and methane — are deeply tied to climate change, which affects air quality, food systems, extreme weather, and infectious disease risks. Undermining the scientific consensus on these links weakens the legal and political basis for federal action. Stripping data from public view and silencing scientists blocks transparency and accountability in decision-making.
Learn more: Trump's EPA is shifting steadily away from its core mission
