The Environmental Protection Agency has repealed its 2009 endangerment finding — a scientific and legal conclusion stating that greenhouse gases warm the planet and threaten health. This finding, which was backed by nearly two decades of scientific research, allowed the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Because of President Donald Trump’s administration, these efforts to limit human-caused climate change will no longer be in place. This rollback will undoubtedly have consequences, yet Trump remains unphased, responding to concerned environmentalists by saying, “Don’t worry about it.”
Throughout his presidency, Trump has been focused on boosting fossil fuels and reversing former President Joe Biden’s pollution limits, despite scientists warning that the past three years have been the hottest yet. Additionally, Trump has also targeted the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants, an amendment that enforced limits on emissions of hazardous air pollutants from power plants.
MATS has been especially effective at controlling mercury emissions, with a 86% decrease in mercury emissions caused by the power sector within its first six years. Mercury is a neurotoxin that can have negative effects on the nervous system, digestive system, immune system, lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
The Biden administration strengthened MATS in 2024, and according to an EPA analysis, these changes would have prevented an estimated 1,200 premature deaths and 360,000 cases related to asthma symptoms in 2035 alone.
Not only will Trump’s regulation cuts impact the nation’s physical health, but they could also have economic effects. According to the EPA’s analysis, each dollar spent on MATS could bring up to $9 in health benefits, and the Clean Air Act has brought an estimated $2 trillion in benefits from 1990-2020.
Attempting to protect Americans, various health and environmental groups are suing the EPA for its unlawful recension.
San Antonio residents will be affected, especially those who are near its coal-fueled power plants. Being an inland city, San Antonio will not see certain effects of global warming, such as rising sea levels, but other effects will certainly be present.
San Antonio is expected to be hotter and drier by the end of this century. Last year, ten out of twelve months were reported with above-average temperatures. The strange highs and lows are both consequences of climate change, which can cause more intense winters.
Fortunately, San Antonio is one of the 25 cities in the American Cities Climate Challenge, an organization that helps cities advance their renewable energy goals.
San Antonio is also part of Texas’ clean air plan, which was approved by the EPA on Mar. 13, 2025. According to the EPA website, this plan aims to “address vehicle emissions and improve air quality in the San Antonio area.” It is unclear if either of these efforts will be affected by the regulation changes, which undermine the agency’s purpose.