A policy change from the Trump Administration could fundamentally change the federal government’s relationship with climate change.

The proposal, announced on Tuesday, would overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s  "endangerment finding” – which, in 2009, determined that greenhouse gases are harmful to people and the environment. 

It's the basis for emissions regulations on vehicles, power plants, and the oil and gas industries under the Clean Air Act. 

Washington has been at the vanguard of climate regulations – last year, voters chose to keep our carbon auction system in place, and our attorney general is fighting to preserve plans to ban sales of most non-electric vehicles in Washington by 2030.

So, what could this EPA proposal mean for Washington’s climate policies? And where does Washington stand amid the flurry of deregulatory moves and cuts to green energy subsidies by the Trump Administration?

Guest:
Jay Inslee, former Governor of Washington state

Related stories:
In Game-Changing Climate Rollback, E.P.A. Aims to Kill a Bedrock Scientific Finding - NYT
Democrats can win over young Trump voters. Here’s how. - Washington Post

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

A policy change from the Trump Administration could fundamentally change the federal government&rsquo;s relationship with climate change.
The proposal, announced on Tuesday, would overturn the Environmental Protection Agency&rsquo;s&nbsp; "endangerment finding&rdquo; &ndash; which, in 2009, determined that greenhouse gases are harmful to people and the environment. 
It's the basis for emissions regulations on vehicles, power plants, and the oil and gas industries under the Clean Air Act.&nbsp;
Washington has been at the vanguard of climate regulations &ndash; last year, voters chose to keep our carbon auction system in place, and our attorney general is fighting to preserve plans to ban sales of most non-electric vehicles in Washington by 2030.
So, what could this EPA proposal mean for Washington&rsquo;s climate policies? And where does Washington stand amid the flurry of deregulatory moves and cuts to green energy subsidies by the Trump Administration? Guest:
<ul>
<li>Jay Inslee, former Governor of Washington state</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/climate/epa-endangerment-finding-repeal-proposal.html">In Game-Changing Climate Rollback, E.P.A. Aims to Kill a Bedrock Scientific Finding - NYT</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/05/01/democrats-youth-climate-jay-inslee/">Democrats can win over young Trump voters. Here&rsquo;s how. - Washington Post</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

A policy change from the Trump Administration could fundamentally change the federal government’s relationship with climate change.