How important is the issue of climate change to you? Do you think about it often? Do you take steps to lower your personal carbon footprint? Do you pay attention to environmental policy, in your community, your country or around the world?
On Feb. 12, The New York Times reported:
President Trump on Thursday announced he was erasing the scientific finding that climate change endangers human health and the environment, ending the federal government’s legal authority to control the pollution that is dangerously heating the planet.
What, if anything, have you heard about this news? What is your initial reaction to it? What questions do you have?
In “What to Know About the E.P.A.’s Big Attack on Climate Regulation,” Lisa Friedman and Maxine Joselow write about the Trump administration’s move and what it may mean for Americans and the environment:
The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday made a critical announcement. It repealed the scientific determination that gives the government the authority to combat climate change.
That 2009 determination is called the endangerment finding, and most people have never heard of it. But it has played an enormous role in environmental regulations affecting cars, power plants and more.
By scrapping the finding, the Trump administration is essentially disputing the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change. The vast majority of scientists say the Earth is rapidly and dangerously warming, which is fueling more powerful storms, killing coral reefs, melting glaciers and causing countless other destructive impacts.
Here’s what you should know about the endangerment finding and why it matters.
What is the endangerment finding?
The finding simply states that carbon dioxide, methane and four other greenhouse gases threaten human health, both now and in the future. These gases are released by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as when a car engine burns gasoline or a power plant burns coal.
The Clean Air Act of 1970 required the E.P.A. to regulate air pollutants that harm human health. For example, it directed the agency to limit smog and soot, which are linked to asthma and other health problems.
But the landmark environmental law didn’t explicitly say whether the agency should regulate greenhouse gases. The endangerment finding said that it should, since these gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in a range of risks to people’s health.
For example, the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is creating warmer and wetter conditions that accelerate the spread of Lyme disease and other vector-borne illnesses. It is also fueling stronger hurricanes, more intense heat waves and other extreme weather events that cause injuries and death.
Why does the Trump administration want to repeal the finding?
President Trump has repeatedly called climate change a “hoax” and has joked that rising seas would create “a little more beachfront property.”
Since Mr. Trump took office, the administration has maintained that climate change is not a problem that the government should solve. To the contrary, the president and his cabinet have argued that the United States should produce and burn more fossil fuels.
They also have sought to relieve the coal, oil and gas industries of pollution limits that cost them money. Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, has claimed that Democratic administrations used the endangerment finding to justify “trillions of dollars” in regulations on polluting industries, and argued reversing those will aid the U.S. economy.
The E.P.A. already is erasing dozens of Biden-era regulations that sought to limit the pollution spewing from automobile tailpipes, power plant smokestacks, oil and gas wells and other sources.
But repealing the endangerment finding goes a step further. By dismantling the justification for addressing greenhouse gas emissions, the repeal could prevent future presidents from reinstating any climate rules in the future.
Students, read the entire article and then tell us:
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What is your reaction to the Trump administration’s repeal of the endangerment finding, which ends the federal government’s authority to fight climate change?
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How do you think this action will affect you and your community? How will it affect the country and the rest of the world?
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What questions do you have about this action? What are you confused about? What do you want to know more about?
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The Trump administration has maintained that climate change is not a problem that the government should solve. Do you agree? Does the United States government have a role to play in the fight against climate change, or should it be up to individuals, private companies and other countries?
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Does science matter in government policy? The article states that “scientists are unequivocal” about the science of climate change and the dangers of unchecked greenhouse gases, while the president has called climate change a “hoax.” How much responsibility does the president have to follow science when it comes to the health and safety of Americans?
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.
Natalie Proulx is an editor at The Learning Network, a Times free teaching resource.
The post What Is Your Reaction to the Trump Administration Ending the Government’s Power to Fight Climate Change? appeared first on New York Times.
