EPA to repeal its own conclusion that greenhouse gases warm the planet
7 hours ago
- #EPA
- #regulation
- #climate change
- The EPA plans to repeal the 2009 endangerment finding, which is the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
- The repeal is expected to save $1.3 trillion by removing regulations but will face legal challenges from environmental groups.
- The endangerment finding under the Clean Air Act has been used to set emissions standards for vehicles and require fossil fuel companies to report emissions.
- The repeal could also remove greenhouse gas emissions standards for motor vehicles, reducing costs for cars, SUVs, and trucks.
- Other climate regulations, such as carbon dioxide standards for power plants and methane regulations, may also be reconsidered.
- Environmental groups, like the Natural Resources Defense Council, criticize the repeal as an attack on federal authority to address climate change.
- Conservative groups, such as The Heartland Institute, support the repeal, calling the original endangerment finding scientifically flawed.
- The EPA argues the 2009 decision was overly pessimistic and misrepresented scientific data, but science groups dispute these claims.
- A controversial DOE report, criticized for inaccuracies, was used to justify the repeal but was found to violate transparency laws.
- Climate scientists and organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, argue that human-driven climate change is causing severe impacts.
- The past 11 years have been the warmest on record, with 2023 being the third-warmest year in modern history.
- The repeal will likely lead to a major legal battle, with environmental groups vowing to challenge the EPA in court.