US Revokes Climate Safeguards, Repealing Key 2009 Endangerment Finding
In a sweeping decision that marks a significant shift in environmental policy, the United States has taken a major step back from global warming efforts by putting climate safeguards on ice. On Thursday, President Donald Trump officially revoked the 2009 "endangerment finding" that was established under the administration of Barack Obama. This critical ruling had previously declared that greenhouse gases pose a serious threat to public health and welfare, empowering the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate pollutants such as carbon dioxide and methane under the Clean Air Act.
Legal Backbone of Climate Policy Collapses
Without the endangerment finding, the legal backbone of American climate policy effectively collapses. President Trump, standing alongside EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, hailed the repeal as "the single largest deregulatory action in American history." He framed the decision as a victory for economic growth and consumer choice, dismissing climate science as a "scam" and arguing that regulating greenhouse gases had unfairly burdened industries like the auto sector, leading to increased costs for consumers.
The 2009 endangerment finding was a direct result of the landmark Supreme Court case Massachusetts v. EPA, which affirmed that greenhouse gases qualify as pollutants under the law. This finding became the foundational basis for implementing limits on vehicle emissions, power plants, and oil and gas operations not only in the US but also influencing global standards. Its repeal is anticipated to lead to a significant increase in US emissions over the coming decades, potentially removing controls worldwide if other nations follow suit in light of American abdication.
Global Warming Context and Urgent Need for Cooperation
Planet Earth has already warmed approximately 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels, according to scientific assessments. Experts warn that the world is on track for roughly 2.6°C of warming by the end of the century, far exceeding the safer threshold established in the Paris Agreement. The US withdrawal from that accord under Trump, coupled with the dismantling of domestic climate authority, signals a retreat at a time when global cooperation is most urgently needed to combat climate change.
Impact on Developing Nations Like India
From the perspective of developing nations such as India, this decision reverberates far beyond American borders. India is acutely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including heatwaves, erratic monsoons, glacial melt, and sea-level rise. The human and economic implications for New Delhi are stark and concerning.
According to the Climate Risk Index covering the period from 1995 to 2024, India has experienced nearly 430 climate disasters, resulting in the deaths of over 80,000 people. Economic losses are estimated at around $170 billion, approximately ₹14 lakh crore, over the past three decades. This highlights the severe consequences that climate inaction can have on vulnerable populations.
Historical Emissions and Diplomatic Pressures
The United States remains the world's second-largest annual emitter of greenhouse gases, trailing only China. However, historically, the US is the single biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution. For years, developing nations like India and China have faced intense diplomatic pressure to curb their emissions, often being vilified in Western political discourse as climate laggards.
India and China have argued, correctly, that the US and Europe built their prosperity on two centuries of fossil-fuel combustion. India, still grappling with poverty and energy deficits, was reluctantly drawn into global climate pacts, committing to ambitious renewable energy targets and net-zero timelines despite having low per-capita emissions compared to the US. Similarly, China has faced sustained criticism even as it leads the world in renewable energy deployment.
Conservative Activism and Economic Framing
The repeal of the endangerment finding fulfills a long-standing goal of conservative activists and fossil fuel interests, who viewed it as the legal linchpin of federal climate regulation. Reports indicate that Trump's 2024 campaign received substantial backing from oil and gas donors. The President and his supporters have framed this move as restoring economic freedom and resisting what they describe as "heavy-handed" mandates, particularly those encouraging electric vehicles. This stance persists even though prominent figures like Elon Musk, a major advocate for electric vehicles, are aligned with the administration.
In summary, the revocation of the 2009 endangerment finding represents a pivotal moment in US climate policy, with far-reaching implications for global emissions, international cooperation, and vulnerable nations worldwide. The decision underscores the ongoing tension between economic interests and environmental safeguards in the fight against climate change.
