New York sues Trump over vehicle emissions rollback

"The American people need their leaders to be honest and pragmatic about the threat of the climate crisis. We will not let the federal government abandon its responsibility to the people. The petition argues the repeal contradicts overwhelming scientific evidence of the continued threat posed by climate change."

"Along with the reversal, the federal government repealed all greenhouse gas emissions standards for motor vehicles, nullifying the legal justification for emissions regulations. Essentially, the move allows manufacturers to build cars that have no pollution limits. It removes a lot of the rules and barriers that were put in place to try to cut greenhouse gas emissions."

"According to a Columbia University report, nearly 100% of climate scientists agree that climate change is happening right now. Nearly half of states, including New York, opposed the initial proposal to rescind federal climate policies. Despite the overwhelming objections, the EPA finalized the reversal of its climate policies last month."

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia challenging the Trump administration's revocation of the EPA's 2009 endangerment finding, which serves as the foundation for U.S. climate policies including vehicle fuel efficiency standards. The petition, supported by a coalition of 37 local governments including New Jersey and Washington D.C., argues the repeal contradicts overwhelming scientific evidence and violates the EPA's obligations under the Clean Air Act. The revocation eliminates greenhouse gas emissions standards for motor vehicles, allowing manufacturers to produce cars without pollution limits. Nearly half of states opposed the initial proposal, but the EPA finalized the reversal despite widespread objections.

Read at Gothamist