Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Hot air: On Donald Trump and environmental issues

Hot air: On Donald Trump and environmental issues

Donald Trump is trying to turn back the clock on (पुरानी स्थिति में लौटना, समय को पीछे ले जाना) environmental issues

As part of his continuing assault (आक्रमण, कड़ा प्रहार) on science, U.S. President Donald Trump revoked (रद्द किया गया, वापस लिया गया) a foundational guideline of the American environment regulator that allowed it to control the transportation sector’s emission of greenhouse gases. The repeal (निरसन, कानून रद्द करना) of the ‘endangerment finding’ was the final, formal blow (अंतिम निर्णायक चोट) following a series of actions by the U.S.’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in weakening Obama-era administration fuel economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for vehicle model years 2021-26 and loosening fuel efficiency norms. The ‘endangerment finding’ emerged after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2007 decision, in Massachusetts vs EPA, which held that greenhouse gases qualify as “air pollutants” and required the EPA to determine (निर्धारित करना, तय करना) whether they endanger (खतरे में डालना) public health or welfare. In December 2009, the EPA concluded that six greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide and methane — “may reasonably (उचित रूप से, तर्कसंगत रूप से) be anticipated (प्रत्याशित) to endanger” health and welfare, drawing heavily on (Using extensively) assessments by the IPCC and U.S. scientific bodies. The EPA’s action had a seismic (अत्यंत प्रभावशाली, जोरदार) impact on the American automotive industry, setting in motion (Starting something) the first federal greenhouse gas standards, set in 2010, for cars and light trucks (2012-16), later extended through 2025. Manufacturers accelerated fuel-efficiency improvements, invested in hybrid systems, lightweight materials, and, eventually, battery-electric vehicles. Regulatory credit markets emerged (Came into existence), benefiting firms such as Tesla, Inc. and resulting in the popularity of electric vehicles globally, including in India.

Though indirect, the stricter greenhouse gas emission norms also influenced a world-wide shift away from the ‘small car’ to the mid-sized Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) with car markers improving the SUV’s emissions profile. Mr. Trump seems to believe that doing away with (Eliminating or removing) the EPA regulations will revive (Bring back to life or use) America’s ‘gas guzzler’ era, boost American manufacturing jobs, and somehow tie in with his administration’s rediscovery of Venezuelan oil. These are pipedreams. Auto-manufacturing production lines today are optimised around electrification, hybridisation and emissions controls. With China dominating most of the production value chain, it is unlikely that auto-manufacturers, who have invested over a multi-decadal horizon into clean vehicles — and with the intention to export to countries where emissions norms are only getting stricter by the day — will change tack to a regress. At best, the norms will be a speed bump to electric vehicle rollout and could win Mr. Trump some brownie points with his voter base. The real danger lies in automakers in India citing such regulation as a pretext to weaken fuel efficiency standards. Although India’s standards do not yet connect climate goals with cars, the domestic automotive sector should view them as a lodestar.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Turn back the clock on (Idiomatic phrase)

Hindi Meaning – पुरानी स्थिति में लौटना, समय को पीछे ले जाना
English Meaning – Try to return to an earlier time or old system.

2.Assault (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – आक्रमण, कड़ा प्रहार
English Meaning – Strong attack (here, on science/policy).

3.Revoked (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – रद्द किया गया, वापस लिया गया
English Meaning – Officially cancelled or withdrawn.

4.Repeal (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – निरसन, कानून रद्द करना
English Meaning – The act of removing the legal force of a law.

5.The final, formal blow (Phrase)

Hindi Meaning – अंतिम निर्णायक चोट
English Meaning – The last decisive action that ends something.

6.Determine (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – निर्धारित करना, तय करना
English Meaning – Decide or establish officially.

7.Endanger (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – खतरे में डालना
English Meaning – Put at risk.

8.Reasonably (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning – उचित रूप से, तर्कसंगत रूप से
English Meaning – In a logical and sensible way.

9.Anticipated (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – प्रत्याशित
English Meaning – Expected beforehand.

10.Seismic (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – अत्यंत प्रभावशाली, जोरदार
English Meaning – Very powerful or having major impact.

11.Drawing heavily on (Phrase)

English Meaning – Using extensively.

12.Setting in motion (Phrase)

English Meaning – Starting something.

13.Emerged (Verb)

English Meaning – Came into existence.

14.Revive (Verb)

English Meaning – Bring back to life or use.

15.Doing away with (Phrasal verb)

English Meaning – Eliminating or removing.