WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists are sounding the alarm on climate change once again as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to challenge the finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health and welfare. The consensus among experts is clear: Global warming is causing significant harm to both people and the planet, with new research and more frequent extreme weather events serving as evidence of the worsening impacts of climate change.
A group of 11 scientists specializing in health and climate have highlighted the urgent need for action, citing peer-reviewed studies that underscore the threats posed by greenhouse gases. They challenge the Trump administration to provide scientific justification for its efforts to reverse the previous determination that greenhouse gases are detrimental to public health.
The original finding from the Environmental Protection Agency in 2009 identified the dangers of planet-warming greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane. This finding has been used to inform regulations addressing emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. Experts emphasize that the evidence linking CO2 pollution to heat waves, storms, air quality degradation, and other health impacts has only strengthened over the past decade.
Recent scientific assessments reveal that the harm caused by climate change has increased in almost all categories since the 2009 EPA decision. The risks to public health, water quality, food production, and air quality are more severe than previously believed. Additionally, researchers have identified new areas of concern, such as impacts on national security, economic well-being, violence, and ocean acidification, as a result of greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate change poses a significant threat to health systems worldwide, with impacts ranging from heat-related illnesses to crop failures that drive hunger and migration. Experts warn that rising carbon dioxide levels in the air can even affect cognitive functions, underlining the wide-ranging and devastating consequences of climate change on human health.
Despite mounting scientific evidence, the Trump administration faces challenges in disputing the established link between greenhouse gases and public health threats. Scientists emphasize the need to address climate change urgently to protect human health and the environment from further harm. The discussion surrounding the Trump administration’s stance on climate change highlights the ongoing debate on how to address the growing impacts of global warming.