Climate Action Under Threat as Trump Repeals Endangerment Finding

The United States has taken a significant step backward in its climate action efforts as President Trump repealed the "endangerment finding," a crucial policy that recognized the threat of greenhouse gases to human health. This move is expected to have a sweeping impact on federal emissions regulations and comes as Florida's climate programs face drastic cuts under Governor DeSantis's proposed budget. The endangerment finding, established in 2009, concluded that six key greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, posed a threat to human health and triggered a legal requirement to regulate them. The policy has been instrumental in shaping US climate policy, including the rollout of federal emission standards for vehicles, power plants, and factories. Trump's repeal of the endangerment finding is expected to face multiple legal challenges, but if it succeeds, it will likely slow the pace of US emissions reductions. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the revocation will save "trillions," but environmental groups argue that it will come at a significant cost to the environment and public health. Meanwhile, in Florida, Governor DeSantis is spearheading a campaign to slash property taxes and pare down state-funded programs, including those focused on climate resilience. The state's climate programs are in the crosshairs, with DeSantis's proposed budget for this year 10% lower than his 2019 budget in inflation-adjusted and per-capita terms. However, not all states are moving backward on climate action. Michigan is exploring a new clean energy source: geologic hydrogen. Governor Gretchen Whitmer's administration wants to make the state a hub for this potentially untapped reserve of clean fuel, which could power the transition away from fossil fuels. Geologic hydrogen is a type of hydrogen that forms naturally within the Earth's crust and could provide a cleaner alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods. In other climate-related news, Native families who were promised free solar panels under the Solar for All program are facing disappointment. The program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed to distribute $7 billion to build residential solar across the country. However, the Trump administration's changes to the program have left many families without access to this clean energy source. The challenges in projecting future global sea levels are also becoming increasingly apparent. Sea levels have risen by at least 20cm since 1901, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said it is "virtually certain" that sea levels will continue to rise during the current century and beyond. However, calculating the rate at which land ice in Antarctica could melt is proving to be a significant challenge, making it difficult to predict exactly how quickly sea levels will climb. As the US takes a step back in its climate action efforts, it is clear that the road ahead will be marked by challenges and uncertainties. However, with states like Michigan pursuing innovative clean energy solutions and environmental groups continuing to push for action, there is still hope for a more sustainable future.