EPA urges White House to strike down landmark climate finding

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has urged the White House to repeal the 2009 "endangerment finding," which allows the U.S. government to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act
• If revoked, this would be one of the Trump administration’s most significant rollbacks of federal climate policy
• The move follows recent decisions to block international climate research and cut EPA funding

🔭 The context: The endangerment finding, based on a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, has justified key regulations on vehicle and power plant emissions under Obama and Biden
• Conservatives argue its repeal is necessary to remove restrictive climate policies, while environmentalists warn it would dismantle vital protections
• Legal battles over the finding have persisted for over 15 years, with opponents gearing up for another fight

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Overturning the finding would weaken the legal foundation for federal climate regulations, limiting future action on emissions
• Environmental groups warn this would lead to higher pollution levels and more extreme weather events
• The decision could also embolden fossil fuel interests and slow down the U.S. energy transition

⏭️ What's next: Legal challenges are expected if the EPA moves forward with repealing the finding
• Experts predict a fierce court battle, as scientific evidence strongly supports greenhouse gases as a public health threat
• The outcome could reshape U.S. climate policy for years to come

💬 One quote: “If the Trump EPA jettisons the obvious finding that climate change is a threat… it will mean more polluted air and more catastrophic extreme weather for Americans.” — David Doniger, Natural Resources Defense Council

📈 One stat: The Trump administration is considering cutting 65% of the EPA’s budget, which could significantly reduce its regulatory capacity

Click for more news covering the latest on public governance