The Obama-era endangerment finding determined that greenhouse gases pose a risk to public health and welfare, providing the legal framework that allows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate emissions. The Trump administration is set to repeal it today.

Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump issued sweeping executive orders promoting what he described as a “beautiful,” “clean,” “abundant,” and “cost-effective” energy source. But coal remains the dirtiest fossil fuel and the largest contributor to carbon emissions from fuel combustion. Many countries are transitioning away from coal, opting for cheaper renewables and natural gas.

Losing bees means more than just having fewer flowers in our gardens – it will result in a chain reaction felt through entire ecosystems and food chains, including our own. Responsible for a third of global food production, bees are essential for life as we know it. So, what would it mean for us – and the world around us – if they disappeared?

The U.S. Energy Department’s secret panel, made up of five climate change skeptics, was tasked with writing a sweeping report criticizing the consensus on global warming. The Trump administration used that report as the basis to propose a repeal of the landmark Endangerment Finding, a scientific determination that provides the legal basis for climate pollution regulations in the U.S.

From mass firings and climate research funding cuts to the rollback of environmental protections and a retreat from international pledges, Earth.Org examines some of U.S. President Donald Trump’s most consequential actions since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, and what they mean for Americans and the world.

The world is grappling with a host of pressing environmental challenges that demand immediate attention and action. From climate change-induced disasters, biodiversity loss and plastic pollution to the rise of artificial intelligence, the 16 biggest environmental problems of 2026 paint a stark picture of the urgent need for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“The last three years are all likely to have exceeded 1.4C and we expect 2026 will be the fourth year in succession to do this,” said Adam Scaife, who leads the team behind the Met Office’s global forecast for 2026.