U.S. Government Stance – Declares War on the Very Idea of Climate Change

America’s stance on climate change has been anything but steady. Over the past four presidents, the U.S. has flip-flopped on international climate deals, most notably the Paris Agreement. But Donald Trump’s second term isn’t just about skepticism — it’s about dismantling the very tools used to fight climate change.

Now, his administration isn’t just pulling back on renewable energy or cheering on oil drilling. It’s going deeper — targeting the legal frameworks that let the government respond to the climate crisis at all.

Reversal

The latest move? Trump’s EPA wants to declare that greenhouse gases don’t endanger human health. This may sound technical, but it’s a game-changer. That 2009 “endangerment finding” is what allows the government to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act. Without it, the EPA can’t limit carbon pollution from vehicles, factories, or power plants.

Think of it like removing the batteries from a smoke detector during a fire.

Rollbacks

Trump’s climate rollback strategy goes beyond one decision. Here’s what’s already underway or coming soon:

• Electric vehicle tax credits will be canceled next month.
• Biden-era incentives for solar and wind? Also gone.
• Coal is making a comeback, with pollution limits lifted.
• California’s ban on gas-powered cars by 2035 is under attack.
• Tailpipe emission rules are being reversed.
• Climate scientists in government jobs? Fired or sidelined.
• The U.S. will skip a major international climate summit in Brazil.
• The latest National Climate Assessment has been buried.

The result? Weaker climate defenses and, in some cases, higher electricity costs due to reduced renewable competition.

Strategy

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, a Trump ally without much environmental experience, is proudly turning the agency into what he calls the “largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.” His goal isn’t cleaner air — it’s fewer rules for business.

Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a fracking industry veteran, oversaw the writing of a new climate report. While he acknowledges that climate change is real, he claims it’s not the world’s biggest problem — energy poverty is. That’s not a widely shared view among scientists.

Silence

Removing the endangerment finding doesn’t just delay climate action — it could shut it down. Future presidents may have no authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions using the Clean Air Act. That means starting over with entirely new legislation, a politically heavy lift.

Also alarming: U.S. scientists are being blocked from participating in global climate research. The next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report is due in 2029 — and the U.S. won’t have a voice.

Fallout

What does all this mean for the average American? Katie Dykes, a Connecticut energy official, says the impacts of climate change are already part of daily life — from flooding to wildfires to heatwaves.

Now, as the federal government steps back, state and local governments are left holding the bag. They’re responsible for cleanup, prevention, and emergency response — with less help from Washington.

There’s a real cost: rising health problems, damaged infrastructure, and communities pushed to the edge. And it’s happening faster than scientists once predicted.

Science

The climate report the Trump team is using to justify its moves wasn’t written by neutral experts. It was put together by known climate skeptics. Scientists say it’s not science — it’s politics.

Andrew Dessler from Texas A&M says it’s built to defend fossil fuels, not the environment. Michael Mann compares it to Soviet-era science denial — manipulated data to support a political agenda.

So, while most of the world is racing to cut emissions, the U.S. is slipping into reverse. That means more pollution, fewer protections, and a much harder path to future recovery.

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