US emissions to become unregulated, despite being the 2nd worst global polluter

The Trump Administration has said it will erase any limits on emissions from coal and gas plants that are dangerously heating up our planet, reports The Guardian. This move doesn’t make sense to most of the rest of the world, or even those in the US, following the US’ hottest summer on record while holding its title as 2^nd largest GHG emitter.

Lee Zeldin, 17^th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said “Americans will see a decrease in electricity prices, but this is just the beginning”. He unveiled the reversal of the 2024 carbon pollution standards on Monday.

The US EPA said it will strip itself of its ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions coming from power plants under the Clean Air Act, saying that they have “no material impact on global climate change”. Many industry professionals beg to differ.

Gina McCarthy, administrator of the EPA under Barack Obama, said: “Every American deserves to breathe clean air, but time and again this administration gives a green light to more pollution at the expense of our health” – similarly, Nathaniel Keohane, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions described the move as “a giant step backward“.

U.S. power sector emissions rose by 4% last year, according to the Energy Information Administration. Zeldin said this proposal will save the industry $370 million in direct compliance costs, yet environmental and public health advocates have said removing the regulations will lead to billions in public health and environmental damages.