Charlotte could see nearly 1,000 more tons of air pollution annually if trump rolls back epa climate authority

Charlotte, North Carolina, once struggled with air pollution so severe that the city’s iconic 871-foot Bank of America Corporate Center—crowned with its distinctive ornate metal top—regularly disappeared behind a thick veil of smog. While years of stricter environmental regulations have dramatically improved the Queen City’s air quality, that progress could be at risk under proposed federal policy changes.

North Carolina environmental regulators are sounding the alarm about potential consequences if the Trump administration follows through on plans to repeal the EPA’s “endangerment finding”—a critical legal foundation that allows the federal government to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. This 2009 scientific determination established that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare, giving the EPA authority to limit these climate-warming pollutants.

According to state officials, eliminating this regulatory framework could lead to a significant spike in Charlotte’s air pollution levels, with annual increases of up to 940 tons of harmful “criteria” pollutants—substances like particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen oxides that directly impact human health and air quality. These pollutants are linked to respiratory problems, heart disease, and other serious health conditions.

The warning highlights a broader tension between federal deregulation efforts and state-level environmental protection goals. For Charlotte residents who have witnessed their city’s transformation from a smog-choked metropolis to one with much cleaner air, the potential rollback represents a concerning step backward in the fight for breathable air and climate stability.