Last Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that his government has gotten rid of an important rule which says that the pollution causing global warming is dangerous. The change will make it much harder for the US government – now or in the future – to act on the climate crisis.
Climate Crisis
Since people first began burning coal to run factories, the world’s temperature has gone up by between 1.2 degrees Celsius (C) (2.16º Fahrenheit (F)) and 1.4ºC (2.5ºF). This increase has led to serious long-term changes in weather patterns that affect all life on Earth.
The world is getting hotter, mainly because humans are burning “fossil fuels” like coal, oil, and natural gas to make energy. These fuels give off pollution called “greenhouse gases” or “carbon emissions”, which make the climate emergency worse.
The effects of climate change can already be seen: melting ice in Antarctica and the Arctic, higher temperatures, heat waves, droughts, wildfires, record rains, and more strong hurricanes.
Scientists say the world must take strong action before 2030, and limit global warming to 1.5ºC (2.7°F) to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis.
The EPA is the US government agency responsible for protecting the environment. In 2009, the EPA made a decision saying that pollution leading to global warming was dangerous. The decision helped the US fight the climate crisis. Now the EPA has gotten rid of that 2009 decision.
(Source: US EPA [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the US government agency responsible for protecting the environment. In 2007, the US Supreme Court ruled that the EPA had the right to make rules about dangerous greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. The EPA had this power because of the Clean Air Act, a law passed by Congress.
In 2009, the EPA made a decision called the “endangerment finding”, which said that pollution leading to global warming was dangerous. The EPA’s decision was based on detailed reports from climate scientists from around the world.
The decision was an important step in the US government’s efforts to fight climate change. It allowed the EPA to create rules to lower pollution from cars, trucks, factories, and power plants.
Last Thursday, Mr. Trump said his government was undoing the 2009 decision, and taking away the EPA’s right to make rules affecting climate change. Mr. Trump has often claimed that the climate crisis isn’t real. He says that removing rules that cut pollution will lower costs and make life easier for businesses.
Last Thursday, Mr. Trump said his government was undoing the 2009 decision, and taking away the EPA’s right to make rules affecting climate change. Above, Mr. Trump and EPA leader Lee Zeldin (right) making the announcement last Thursday.
(Source: Daniel Torok/White House[Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)
Many people believe Mr. Trump is wrong. Almost all scientists agree that the climate crisis is real and dangerous. And now, in 2026, there is even more proof that greenhouse gases are causing climate change than there was in 2009.
Many experts worry that the move will make the climate crisis worse. Without the endangerment finding, the EPA can no longer make rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions. That means the US will not be able to keep its promises to lower these emissions. It will also make it harder for US states to pass their own laws to limit pollution.
Mr. Trump’s latest actions are part of a larger effort to weaken protections for the environment in the US. Since he started his second term in January, 2025, Mr. Trump has pushed for greater use of fossil fuels, relaxed pollution limits, and lowered protection for natural resources. He has also cut climate science programs and pulled out of important international climate agreements.
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Since he started his second term in January, 2025, Mr. Trump has relaxed pollution limits, lowered protection for natural resources, and pushed for greater use of fossil fuels like coal. Above, a coal-fired power plant in Louisville, Kentucky, seen on Saturday.
Many people believe the EPA’s plan is against the law. Several states, and groups that work to protect the environment have said they will try to fight Mr. Trump’s actions in court. But that could mean years without any pollution-cutting rules from the EPA.
And even though a 2007 Supreme Court ruling said that the EPA could limit greenhouse gases, today’s Supreme Court is very different. It’s possible that the court could make a different ruling this time.
The EPA’s new position may also make it harder for future US presidents to take action on climate change. Without the endangerment finding, any new climate rules might have to be approved by Congress.
Did You Know…?
In the US, transportation is the biggest source of greenhouse gases. Without the endangerment finding, the US now has few rules about transportation pollution and how well cars and trucks must use gas (petrol). This is very unusual at a time when other countries around the world are quickly changing over to electric cars.