The Trump administration eases the limits of greenhouse gas emissions

2019/06/20 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ekonomia
• Ekologia
• Energia
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The EPA, the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, announces a new greenhouse gas emissions plan. By virtue of this, each State may establish limits and discharge objectives.

Trump's plan rejects that of Obama. By 2030, its goal was to reduce emissions below 32% compared to 2005 levels, and to achieve this, it defined the measures to be met by each State. Among other things, it forced industrial facilities to increase energy efficiency and replace coal with renewable energy sources. In addition, the development of carbon dioxide extraction and storage technologies of the atmosphere was proposed.

The Obama plan was not yet underway, as to carry it out, the legislation had to be adapted. But now everything has been annulled. However, greenhouse gas emissions have decreased naturally in the last decade, mainly due to the substitution of coal by other cheaper and more efficient energy sources, such as natural gas and renewables. According to the U.S. Department of Energy Information, in the 2005-2017 period electricity industry emissions have decreased by 28%.

In this regard, several experts who oppose Trump's intention have denounced that the new Plan allows industries to remain intact. The Association of Responsible Scientists has warned that last year the emissions of the electricity industry have increased for the first time in the last four years. Therefore, Trump has shown himself to be contrary to the plan announced by the government and many other scientists working in the environmental field.