Is CO2 truly a pollutant? We break down the debate

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Trump administration has moved to revise the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulatory stance by questioning whether carbon dioxide should legally be classified as a pollutant
• The move challenges a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that requires the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases if they are deemed to endanger public health or welfare
• The administration argues that CO₂, being a naturally occurring substance, should not be regulated under the same framework as conventional air pollutants

🔭 The context: The 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA ruling established CO₂ and other greenhouse gases as subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act
• This provided the legal foundation for numerous federal climate policies, including power plant regulations and vehicle emission standards
• While mainstream scientific consensus links elevated CO₂ levels to global warming and its associated human health risks, critics within the current administration argue that the Clean Air Act was never designed to address global climate phenomena

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Redefining CO₂ as non-pollutant would undermine key legal tools used to enforce emissions standards, likely weakening US climate policy across energy, transportation, and industrial sectors
• Such a shift could delay decarbonization efforts, reduce pressure on fossil fuel producers, and impair progress toward international climate targets
• Conversely, it may embolden other governments or industries to roll back climate commitments, especially where economic or political opposition to regulation exists

⏭️ What's next: If the EPA formally moves forward with redefining CO₂, it will face immediate legal challenges from environmental groups and several states
• Courts will likely revisit the scientific and legal basis of the 2007 precedent
• The debate will play into broader electoral dynamics, as climate regulation remains a dividing issue in US policymaking
• The EPA is expected to release a proposed rule by November, followed by a public comment period and possible litigation

💬 One quote: “CO₂ is essential to life, not a pollutant,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “We believe regulations should be grounded in both science and statutory intent”

📈 One stat: CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere reached 424.5 parts per million in May 2025 — the highest level in more than 800,000 years, according to NOAA data

Explore carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies on Data Hub™ — the first platform designed to help sustainability providers generate sales leads!

Click for more news covering the latest on carbon and public governance