Six possible effects of Trump's climate policy change

February 13, 2026

President Trump has reversed the Obama-era endangerment finding, which established the scientific basis for regulating six greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act and enabled EPA oversight of emissions. The reversal removes legal restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from industries, particularly vehicle manufacturers, with the administration claiming it will save over $1. 3 trillion and reduce car costs by $2,400 per vehicle.

Who is affected

US industries, particularly vehicle manufacturers (Ford and members of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation)
American consumers and taxpayers
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its administrator Lee Zeldin
Current and future generations of Americans
Environmental groups including the Environmental Defense Fund
US automakers competing in international markets
People suffering from health conditions like asthma
Communities vulnerable to climate change impacts
Former officials including Margo T Oge (former EPA head) and John Kerry (former Secretary of State and climate envoy)
Legal experts including Michael Gerrard (Columbia University) and Robert Percival (University of Maryland)
US states that previously brought legal action against corporate polluters
Workers in US manufacturing and renewable energy sectors

What action is being taken

The EPA is reversing the endangerment finding
Environmental groups are expected to challenge the decision in courts
The Trump administration has already scrapped Biden-era policies including provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act
China is producing more wind and solar energy than all of the rest of the world combined and deploying clean energy technology

Why it matters

This decision fundamentally reshapes US environmental law by removing the scientific and legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. It has significant implications for public health, with projections of 15,400 to 58,000 additional premature deaths and millions more asthma attacks by 2055. The reversal positions the US against global trends in clean energy, potentially leaving American manufacturers with obsolete technology while competitors in the EU and China advance electric vehicle production. It also shifts legal liability back to the courts through public nuisance cases, creating uncertainty for industries. The decision represents a fundamental tension between short-term economic considerations and long-term environmental and health consequences, with estimated costs potentially reaching trillions of dollars from increased emissions and climate-related damages.

What's next

Legal challenges are expected from environmental groups in the courts
Public nuisance lawsuits against corporate polluters are predicted to increase as regulatory power shifts from the EPA back to the court system
Greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase by 7.5-18 billion tonnes by 2055

Read full article from source: BBC