A group of 23 US states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's decision to revoke a key scientific finding on climate change.
The lawsuit, led by California and New York, was filed in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Thursday, and is joined by nine cities, several counties, the US Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
According to New York State Attorney General Letitia James, the Trump administration has chosen denial and repealed critical protections that are foundational to the federal government's response to climate change.
Background
The complaint comes in response to Trump's move on February 12 to repeal the endangerment finding, which was established in 2009 and concludes that climate change is a threat to human health and the environment.
The finding formed the basis for government regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions and encourage renewable energy, but the Trump administration had attacked it as a setback for the fossil fuel industry.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the president is choosing Big Oil profits over public health, and betting that the American people won't notice the cost until the bill comes due.
International Context
The move has been criticized by advocacy groups, who argue that the decision would harm public health and welfare, and lead to more pollution, higher costs, and thousands of avoidable deaths.
Peter Zalzal, a leader at the Environmental Defense Fund, said that repealing the Endangerment Finding endangers all of us, and people everywhere will face more pollution, higher costs, and thousands of avoidable deaths.
The target of the lawsuit is the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the states are seeking to reinstate the endangerment finding and challenge the EPA's decision to repeal tailpipe emissions standards for all vehicles and engines with model years between 2012 and 2017.
Source: Al Jazeera
