Listeners, the biggest environmental headline this week is the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of sweeping rollbacks on national greenhouse gas reporting and emissions standards. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described this move as the “greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in US history,” with the agency unveiling 31 major deregulatory actions in a single day.

At the heart of this shift is the EPA’s new proposal to end requirements for businesses to report greenhouse gas emissions. Zeldin argues that the mandatory reporting program is “nothing more than bureaucratic red tape” and claims that it doesn’t materially improve air quality or protect public health. The agency estimates this change will save businesses $2.4 billion in regulatory costs. Additionally, the EPA is postponing data collection for petroleum and natural gas production until 2034. The change has triggered strong backlash from environmental groups. Masada Disenhouse from SanDiego350 warns that rescinding the reporting requirement makes it harder to hold polluters accountable and reduce toxic emissions, especially as climate-driven disasters like floods and fires become increasingly severe in the U.S. West.

In a related move, the EPA has also proposed rolling back the key Obama-era and Biden-era greenhouse gas standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants. This would repeal performance standards first adopted under the Clean Power Plan, plus the Biden administration’s carbon pollution standards from last year. EPA’s proposal also reinterprets the Clean Air Act, arguing fossil fuel electricity plants do not significantly contribute to air pollution. Further, the agency is pushing to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding that established greenhouse gases as a pollutant requiring federal regulation. If finalized, this would strip the legal underpinning for nearly all federal climate rules, including those governing emissions from vehicles and heavy industry.

For everyday Americans, these rollbacks could mean fewer safeguards against air pollution and a potential increase in climate-related health problems. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, direct health costs from climate change could reach up to $4 billion annually, with climate change causing around 250,000 additional deaths each year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. For businesses, especially in the oil, gas, and power sectors, these deregulations reduce compliance costs but may lead to legal uncertainty since environmental and state groups are already preparing to challenge the new rules in court.

State and local governments will have to navigate the loss of federal climate oversight and potentially fill gaps with their own environmental policies, while internationally, the changes could undermine U.S. credibility in global climate agreements. According to the European Commission, the U.S. was responsible for over 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions last year – a reminder of the significance of these federal decisions worldwide.

EPA is opening a public comment period on these proposals, with details available on its official website. Upcoming deadlines for public input and legal challenges could influence whether these rollbacks take effect or face additional hurdles.

If you care about clean air, health, or the future of climate action, now is the time to get involved. Visit EPA’s website to read the proposed rules, submit your comments, or connect with local organizations working on environmental issues.

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