The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to retract its 2009 scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, pose a threat to human health and the environment. This move counters prevailing scientific consensus and the agency’s mission, according to former federal officials.
Joe Goffman, who served as an assistant administrator in the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation during the Biden administration, indicated that the repeal of the “endangerment finding” would effectively nullify federal regulations on emissions.
In March, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the agency aimed to remove this legal basis for emissions regulations, referring to it as the “holy grail of the climate change religion.” Goffman noted that the agency might also eliminate emissions standards for vehicles and trucks.
Goffman argued that rescinding the finding undermines the public health mission of the EPA. He emphasized a significant body of EPA and expert literature supporting the benefits of regulating air pollution and climate impacts.
The EPA stated it was preparing a proposal on June 30, 2025, titled ‘Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards,’ sent to the Office of Management and Budget for interagency review. Public notice and comment will follow.
There is widespread scientific agreement that greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels contribute to global warming, linked to extreme events like wildfires in Los Angeles and Hurricane Helene in the southeastern United States.
John Balbus, former deputy assistant secretary for climate change and health equity at the Department of Health and Human Services, highlighted the health risks of hotter temperatures, which can exacerbate hurricanes and wildfires.
Balbus noted the climate changes observable in the U.S. over the past decade and criticized any move to repeal the endangerment finding as a denial of both science and common sense.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org