Report on Climate Change Regulation and the Role of the EPA

Introduction

Record summer heatwaves have been affecting the northern hemisphere, including regions such as Japan, China, Europe, and North America. These extreme temperatures are linked to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, which continue to drive global warming. Despite this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump administration proposed in June to eliminate regulations limiting climate-warming gases from power plants, which contribute approximately 25% of U.S. emissions.

Legal Background and the Massachusetts v. EPA Case

1. Massachusetts v. EPA Supreme Court Decision: This landmark case established that greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, requiring the EPA to regulate them.
2. Endangerment Finding: Following the case, the EPA under the Obama administration formally found that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare, triggering regulatory actions under the Clean Air Act.

Potential Impact of EPA’s Proposed Rollback

• If successful, the rollback would end federal regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, affecting emissions from power plants, vehicles, landfills, and oil and gas exploration.
• This would undermine the United States’ primary legal tool for addressing climate change, posing significant risks to public health and environmental sustainability.

Legal and Political Challenges

• The Trump administration seeks to reinterpret statutory language to argue that emissions from power plants do not “significantly” contribute to air pollution endangering public health, aiming to dismantle existing regulations.
• Concerns exist regarding the United States Supreme Court’s recent trend of rulings unfavorable to environmental protections, which could influence the outcome of legal challenges.

Economic and Social Considerations

• Contrary to claims that environmental regulations hinder economic growth, historical data shows that environmental protection and economic prosperity can coexist, supporting jobs and industries related to pollution control.
• The rollback threatens environmental justice initiatives aimed at addressing disproportionate pollution impacts on poor communities and communities of color, undermining efforts to allocate resources where they are most needed.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The EPA’s regulatory decisions have direct implications for multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is critical to preventing health risks associated with climate change and air pollution.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Regulations encourage the transition to cleaner energy sources, supporting sustainable energy access.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Environmental regulations foster green jobs and sustainable economic development.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Environmental justice initiatives address inequalities by protecting vulnerable communities from disproportionate environmental harms.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Effective regulation of greenhouse gases is essential for combating climate change and its impacts.

Educational and Future Perspectives

Harvard Law Professor Richard Lazarus emphasizes the importance of educating and empowering the next generation of environmental lawyers to address these challenges. Despite current setbacks, young professionals are encouraged to remain resilient and committed to advancing climate action and environmental justice.

Conclusion

The proposed rollback of EPA regulations on greenhouse gas emissions poses significant challenges to climate action, public health, and environmental justice. Upholding and strengthening these regulations aligns with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring a sustainable future. Continued advocacy, legal action, and education are vital to overcoming these obstacles and promoting global environmental sustainability.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article focuses heavily on climate change issues, greenhouse gas emissions, and regulatory actions related to climate protection.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Discussion on how greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare connects to health impacts of climate change.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article discusses emissions from power plants and energy regulation, linking to clean energy and sustainable energy production.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Environmental justice and the targeting of resources to communities most affected by pollution, including poor and communities of color, relate to reducing inequalities.
5. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article addresses the relationship between environmental regulation and economic growth, jobs in pollution control industries, and economic impacts of climate policies.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (implied by EPA regulations and policies on greenhouse gas emissions).
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning (implied by educating next generation environmental lawyers).
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination (linked to EPA’s endangerment finding on greenhouse gases affecting public health).
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (implied by regulation of emissions from power plants and energy sector).
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all (implied by environmental justice efforts targeting vulnerable communities).
5. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation (implied by discussion on economic growth alongside environmental regulation).

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Levels
   • Measurement of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and other sources as a key indicator of progress on climate action targets.
2. Air Quality and Public Health Indicators
   • Indicators related to air pollution levels and health outcomes (e.g., heat-related illnesses, respiratory conditions) linked to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental quality.
3. Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Data
   • Tracking the implementation and enforcement of environmental regulations, including the EPA’s endangerment finding and climate policies.
4. Environmental Justice Metrics
   • Data on pollution exposure and resource allocation in vulnerable communities (poor and communities of color) to assess progress on reducing inequalities.
5. Economic Indicators Related to Green Jobs
   • Employment statistics in pollution control industries and economic growth data to evaluate the balance between environmental regulation and economic development.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: insideclimatenews.org