EPA Repealed Climate Change Regulation in 2020 Under Trump Administration

In Brief

The EPA rescinded the scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human health.

Key Facts

• The Environmental Protection Agency repealed the scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life by warming the planet
• This repeal removed a foundational basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions
• The change was enacted under the Trump administration in 2020
• The repeal affected the government's ability to combat climate change through regulation
• The repeal was announced on a Thursday

What Happened

In 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration repealed the scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human health by causing dangerous warming of the planet. This decision removed a key regulatory foundation for controlling greenhouse gas emissions. The repeal was announced on a Thursday.

Why It Matters

The repeal limited the federal government's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, impacting efforts to address climate change. This change altered environmental regulatory policies in the United States.