Six possible outcomes of Trump's climate policy change
BBC World
February 13, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the reversal of the Obama-era endangerment finding, a landmark decision that forms the legal basis for much of U.S. environmental regulation. This move could significantly weaken greenhouse gas restrictions, particularly in the automotive industry, leading to fewer regulations on emissions. The 2009 endangerment finding identified six harmful greenhouse gases and established their regulation under the Clean Air Act. With this ruling overturned, industries, especially automakers, face fewer constraints on emissions. Experts warn that this could result in an additional 7.5-18 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2055, potentially costing trillions of dollars and exacerbating climate change impacts.
The Trump administration claims the reversal will reduce costs for car manufacturers by approximately $2,400 per vehicle, making cars cheaper for consumers. However, this decision could undermine efforts to boost fuel efficiency and promote electric vehicles, which were advanced under former President Joe Biden's policies. While some in the automotive industry, including Ford and major trade groups, have welcomed the change as a way to align standards with market realities, concerns remain about the global implications. Automakers may struggle to meet international climate standards, particularly in markets outside the U.S., where stricter regulations still apply.
The legal landscape is also set to shift. The endangerment finding had curtailed "public nuisance" lawsuits by centralizing authority for greenhouse gas regulation under the EPA. With its repeal, states and environmental groups could resume filing such lawsuits, potentially leading to a surge in litigation. Legal experts predict this could unravel decades of
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/13/2026