Trump proposal to end US EPA climate authority could intensify Arizona’s heat, drought, and fires

The Trump administration is moving to repeal a 2009 EPA rule that allows regulation of greenhouse gases, a shift scientists warn would worsen Arizona’s extreme heat, wildfire risk, and air pollution.

Joan Meiners reports for The Arizona Republic.

In short:

• The “endangerment finding” underpins the federal government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases; repealing it would weaken protections against climate change impacts.
• Arizona’s weak state-level regulations mean loss of federal oversight could worsen already dangerous air quality, heat waves, and drought conditions.
• Critics say the proposal to kill the endangerment finding misuses climate science and could undermine clean energy investment, costing jobs and threatening public health.

Why this matters:

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide trap heat in the atmosphere, driving rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and more intense wildfires — all of which are pressing realities in Arizona. Without the U.S. EPA’s authority to curb these emissions, states with minimal environmental protections face mounting health risks from extreme heat and poor air quality, which can aggravate asthma, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses. Reduced federal oversight could also weaken incentives for clean energy, slowing the transition away from fossil fuels at a time when the climate crisis is accelerating.

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