He Helped Write the Clean Air Act. He Fears for Its Future.
Why it matters: The debate over the Clean Air Act's scope could redefine climate regulation and energy policy.
- Thomas Jorling, a co-writer of the 1970 Clean Air Act, argues against the Trump administration's claim that the law excludes greenhouse gases.
- The Trump administration asserts the Clean Air Act should not apply to planet-warming greenhouse gases, aiming to narrow its regulatory reach.
- The 1970 Clean Air Act, originally cosponsored by Republicans, is at the center of a dispute regarding its applicability to modern climate challenges.
Thomas Jorling, a key architect of the 1970 Clean Air Act and former Republican adviser, is challenging the Trump administration's interpretation that the law does not cover planet-warming greenhouse gases. His stance directly disputes the administration's efforts to limit the Act's scope, highlighting a fundamental disagreement over its original intent and future application to climate change.
