Trump Plans to Roll Back Car Emissions Rules Despite Climate and Health Risks

Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to roll back car Pollution rules set by the Biden administration, claiming the move “doesn’t mean a damn bit of difference to the environment.” But scientists and environmental experts strongly disagree. According to reporting by Lisa Friedman for The New York Times, decades of evidence show that emissions from vehicles are a major contributor to climate change and are harming public health daily.

Transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, responsible for about a third of the country’s total output. These emissions include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter—pollutants that not only warm the planet but also worsen asthma, heart disease, and even cancer.

Trump’s proposed rollback would return fuel economy standards to the 2020 level of about 40 miles per gallon. The current rules, which aim to push carmakers toward electric vehicles, would have raised the average to 65 mpg by 2031. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that Biden’s standards would cut 7.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide—the same as removing 1.6 million cars from the road.

Experts like Dr. George Thurston of NYU Langone Health say that vehicle emissions are “insidious” and affect nearly everyone, especially those living near roads. Brenda Ekwurzel of the Union of Concerned Scientists stated bluntly, “We lose people’s lives every day because of vehicle emissions.”

Instead of turning back the clock, now is the time to accelerate toward cleaner, greener transportation. Every electric car, bike ride, and public transport trip helps cut Pollution and saves lives. Support sustainable policies, speak up, and consider making your next ride emissions-free. The planet—and your lungs—will thank you.

Video Source: PBS NewsHour/Youtube

Sign These Petitions! 

Please sign our latest and most urgent petitions to help the planet. Every signature counts!

• Petition: Stop Australia from Jailing 10-Year-Olds – Protect Children, Not Prisons
• Petition: Hold Impact Plastics Accountable for Employee Deaths During Hurricane Helene
• Petition: Help Stop Deforestation Before It’s Too Late

Related Content:

• Scientists Say Urine Fertilizer Could Help Feed the Planet and Cut Emissions
• Petition: UN Must Correct Misleading Report on Animal Agriculture Emissions
• 4 Major Impacts Of Wildfires On Our Lives, 1 Solution To Avoid Them
• U.S. Emissions In 2024 Increased Due to Energy Demands Despite Renewables Boost
• 10 Technologies Behind Carbon Capture and Storage (and Their Potential to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions!)

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Stand against fast fashion Pollution by supporting circular brands like Tiny Rescue, which create cause-based collections using recycled, zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade, ensuring it never ends up in a landfill.
• Shop Sustainably for Your Home: Visit SustaiNOBLE.org, an eco-friendly and ethically sourced home decor store that will empower your home with luxurious fair-trade, and sustainable products made by global artisans. 
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!