Thu, 12 Feb 2026

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 Trump revokes key climate ruling which he says has made cars pricier

The White House calls it the largest deregulation in US history, but environmentalists say it will prove costly for Americans.

* The Trump administration has reversed a key Obama-era scientific ruling that found greenhouse gases are a threat to public health.
* The 2009 "endangerment finding" was the basis for federal efforts to reduce emissions, particularly from vehicles.
* The White House claims the reversal will save $2.4 billion per vehicle and make cars cheaper, but environmental groups say it will lead to more pollution and health problems.
* Former President Barack Obama criticized the move, saying it would make Americans more vulnerable to climate change.
* Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials said the finding was a key part of their efforts to regulate greenhouse gases from various sectors, including power plants, oil and gas, and aircraft.
* Trump administration officials say overturning the regulation will save over $1 trillion and help reduce energy costs.
* Environmentalists dispute these claims, saying the move will lead to more fuel costs and health problems for Americans.
* The reversal may limit sales of American cars overseas due to manufacturing less fuel-efficient vehicles.
* Some observers believe there will be unintended consequences from the reversal, including blocking state laws on carbon emissions and suppressing "nuisance" lawsuits on climate change.
* One key argument about the reversal is the science behind it, with many climate experts questioning a report by a panel of scientists that challenged widely accepted science on greenhouse gas warming impacts.
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