{"id":2056,"date":"2025-08-13T07:00:57","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T12:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/markets\/?p=2056"},"modified":"2026-02-12T15:51:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T20:51:42","slug":"your-health-your-wallet-your-future-americans-cant-afford-epa-rollbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/markets\/2025\/08\/13\/your-health-your-wallet-your-future-americans-cant-afford-epa-rollbacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Health, Your Wallet, Your Future: Americans Can\u2019t Afford EPA Rollbacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

This blog was written by: Aurora Barone<\/a>, manager of economics and policy; Talley Burley<\/a>, manager, climate risk and insurance; Jesse Gourevitch<\/a>, economist; Abhinand Krishnashankar<\/a>, senior economics and policy analyst; Jeremy Proville<\/a>, director, economics; and Luis Fern\u00e1ndez Intriago,<\/a>\u00a0economist.<\/span><\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

The Clean Air Act, a landmark piece of U.S. legislation, has quietly been protecting not just our lungs, but also our wallets<\/span> for many years<\/span>. <\/span>Then, o<\/span>n July 29, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency <\/span>announc<\/span>ed a <\/span><\/span>proposal to rescind<\/span><\/span><\/a> a<\/span> crucial <\/span>part<\/span> of this protection<\/span>:<\/span> the 2009 <\/span><\/span>Endangerment Finding<\/span><\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Th<\/span>e<\/span> finding, rooted in extensive science <\/span>with <\/span>robust public <\/span>input<\/span>, <\/span>determined<\/span> that <\/span>climate<\/span> pollution threatens the public health and welfare of Americans. Now, <\/span>t<\/span>he very real benefits<\/span> \u2013 including <\/span><\/span>economic<\/span><\/span> benefits \u2013 <\/span>stemming from this finding are at risk<\/span>. <\/span>U<\/span>nderstanding <\/span>what is<\/span> at stake is more important than ever.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Americans face new and rising costs due to climate change. <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The impacts of climate change are already costing us. Climate-related disasters already saddle the U.S. with an estimated <\/span>$150 billion (about $460 per person in the US) bill<\/span><\/a> each year<\/span><\/i>. Studies project that a person born in 2024 could face nearly <\/span>$500,000 in climate-related costs over their lifetime<\/span><\/a> if we fail to take action. \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These aren’t abstract numbers; they translate into tangible financial pressures. In fact, over half of Americans <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> that the consequences of climate change are already influencing major financial decisions, such as where to live or what career path to choose. Here are some ways climate change is already costing you:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n