On December 11, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made significant changes to several pages on its website, removing or downplaying explanations that clearly stated that climate change is primarily caused by human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
Until recently, the page dedicated to the causes of climate change explained that since the Industrial Revolution, human activities had released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, resulting in global warming far beyond what natural phenomena alone could account for.
However, in the revised version, these direct references to human emissions have been removed or reduced, and the focus is now almost entirely on natural phenomena such as changes in the Earth’s orbit, solar activity, and variations in reflectivity. The page no longer clearly states that fossil fuels are the main driver of contemporary climate change.
Climate scientists have strongly criticized these revisions, describing them as misleading and potentially confusing for the general public. According to experts, omitting the dominant role of human activities in current warming is inaccurate in light of the global scientific consensus.
This update comes in a broader context of government actions that have already seen the removal of other key documents, such as the National Climate Assessment, and aligns with the Trump administration’s strategy to boost hydrocarbon production (oil, gas, and coal) while reducing emphasis on climate change mitigation.
In response to criticism, an EPA spokesperson stated that the agency is no longer guided by what they called a “political agenda” and is focusing instead on protecting human health and economic growth. They also noted that archived content remains accessible, although some links currently lead to error pages.
Scientists and former government officials have countered that denying or minimizing the human role in climate change omits a clear and essential truth, and such an approach undermines society’s ability to understand and effectively respond to this global crisis.
