Trump undermines foundational climate ruling in yet another move to cut corners for the coal and fossil fuel industries

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -Thursday, the Trump Administration is expected to announce a suite of rollbacks that bolster the coal and fossil fuel industries, including the reversal of a ruling that has formed the backbone of climate advocacy for nearly two decades. Stemming from the first-ever lawsuit seeking federal greenhouse gas standards under the Clean Air Act-filed by the Sierra Club in 2003-and the resulting 2007 Mass v. EPASupreme Court decision, the EPA's endangerment finding established that greenhouse gas pollution could be regulated under the Clean Air Act. That finding serves as the legal basis for a number of crucial regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions, including regulations that limit power plant emissions, car emissions, and more.

Two-and-a-half decades later, the Trump administration is trying to destroy these foundational safeguards and turn back the clock to enrich fossil fuel executives. Along with the expected rollback of Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, clean vehicle standards, and national monument protections, Thursday's White House event will formalize climate denialism as official government policy and move to eliminate EPA's ability to directly fight the climate crisis.

In response, Jack Darin, Illinois Chapter Director, released the following statement:

"This gutting of climate protections makes one thing perfectly clear: whether it's addressing the climate crisis or the energy affordability crisis, we're on our own. The Trump Administration has proven again that its first and only priority is enriching friends in the fossil fuel industry at everyone else's expense. State action has never been more essential. Illinois must continue to lead the way."

See Sierra Club's national statement on the elimination of the EPA's endangerment finding here.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.