A man's hands with a pen writing on a pad of paper.

Trump’s EPA rollback on climate rules may reignite legal battles between states and the federal government

The Trump administration’s move to repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gases could trigger a new wave of lawsuits and state-led climate regulations, echoing past legal fights.

Marianne Lavelle reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

The EPA under President Trump has proposed rescinding the “endangerment finding,” which since 2009 has allowed the agency to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
Legal experts say the EPA’s attempt to block state-level actions and lawsuits may not hold up in court, potentially leading to a renewed wave of litigation from states like Massachusetts and California.
Industry and environmental advocates warn that ending the federal finding could lead to a fragmented system of state rules, raising costs and legal uncertainty for businesses.

Key quote:

“EPA is trying to thread an impossibly small needle.”

— Richard Revesz, dean emeritus of the New York University School of Law

Why this matters:

The endangerment finding has been a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy, giving the EPA the legal authority to treat greenhouse gases as pollutants. Its repeal would limit the federal government’s ability to regulate emissions tied to climate change and public health, even as scientific evidence on warming and its health impacts grows stronger. Without a national standard, states may impose their own climate laws, resulting in inconsistent policies and legal clashes that delay coordinated action. Such fragmentation could have serious consequences for air quality, energy costs, and the health of vulnerable populations exposed to rising heat and worsening air pollution.

insideclimatenews.org

Trump’s EPA rollback on climate rules may reignite legal battles between states and the federal government

US hydropower is at a make-or-break moment

Shutdown may slow oil and gas drilling on public lands

White House threat of new green cuts has Democrats seeing red

Pope Leo calls for unity on climate at a divided moment

Jane Goodall, pioneering conservationist and primatologist, dies at 91

Roseland residents suffer as EPA delays cleanup

The EV tax credit is ending. How could that affect the US car market?

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.