The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to reverse a key scientific finding that has been the backbone of the country’s climate rules for over a decade. Sources close to the matter told Reuters the agency plans to undo its 2009 conclusion that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health. This move would remove the legal ground for many major federal regulations aimed at cutting emissions from cars, factories, and power plants.
An EPA spokesperson confirmed the proposal was submitted for review to the White House Office of Management and Budget on June 30. It is also being examined by other government agencies. The plan will be opened up for public comment once it finishes its interagency checks and receives approval from the EPA Administrator.
The original “endangerment finding” was made during the Obama administration and says emissions from new motor vehicles endanger health and welfare. This finding was a crucial step that led to tighter controls on greenhouse gases and was backed up in court several times. The Supreme Court had already ruled in 2007 that the EPA must decide if greenhouse gases threaten public health, which led to the 2009 determination.
While the EPA is focusing on its legal authority to regulate emissions, experts say it would be almost impossible to dispute the scientific evidence that humans drive climate change. Sean Donahue, a lawyer who has worked on environmental cases, called reversing the finding a “shocking dereliction” and said it would ignore overwhelming science and harm the nation’s reputation.
This move comes amid a broader rollback of climate measures under the current administration. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, confirmed earlier this year, stated at his hearing that the agency has the power but not the duty to regulate greenhouse gases. Since then, the EPA has launched a review of the finding, following an executive order from the president issued on his first day in office. White House budget director Ross Vought described the review as “long overdue,” arguing that the existing rules hurt the economy.
The U.S. remains the largest historic source of greenhouse gas emissions and the second-largest emitter currently, after China. On the international stage, the pressure to act on climate is growing. Just recently, the International Court of Justice said emissions threaten the very survival of the planet and urged countries to work together on cutting them.
If the EPA moves forward with scrapping the endangerment finding, it would significantly weaken the government’s ability to fight climate change through regulations. The full impact of this decision is yet to be seen, but it could reshape how the U.S. handles environmental and public health protections in the years ahead.