The Trump administration faces a fight over ‘biggest’ environmental deregulatory action in US history
1 min read
Summary
The Trump administration plans to substantially reduce constraints on pollution in the US, seeking notably to diminish controls on toxic mercury, hazardous air pollutants, soot, toxic chemicals in the workplace, and climate-changing carbon dioxide.
It is also seeking to remove, or “clawback” $20bn of federal funding allocated to reducing greenhouse gas pollution.
These initiatives, if implemented, would lead to increased pollution, higher petrol and energy prices, higher healthcare costs, more traffic deaths, and a sharp increase in climate damage.
Opposition groups, including environmental associations and many in the medical profession, have voiced strong opposition to the proposals and say they will fight them in the courts.
Implementation will be difficult, given the large number of proposals and the recent reduction in staff numbers at governmental bodies tasked with introducing and managing the proposed changes.