By Valerie Volcovici
In a groundbreaking announcement, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to retract its long-held stance that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to human health. This action is touted as one of the largest deregulatory steps in the history of the United States.
Lee Zeldin, who was handpicked by Republican President Donald Trump to lead the EPA, revealed these intentions during a recent podcast episode of Ruthless. He argued that this repeal would not only save money for Americans but also dismantle two decades of regulations aimed at limiting emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other harmful greenhouse gases originating from vehicles, power plants, oil extraction, and various other industries.
The origins of these regulations trace back to 2009 when the EPA under former President Barack Obama recognized that emissions from new cars could contribute to air pollution, consequently jeopardizing public health and safety. This “endangerment finding” was supported in numerous court battles and has been critical in shaping subsequent greenhouse gas policies.
On the podcast, Zeldin dismissed concerns surrounding carbon dioxide, emphasizing that they perceive it merely as a pollutant, without acknowledging its crucial role for the planet. “They won’t admit the benefits of carbon dioxide… its significance is often overlooked,” he noted.
Reports indicate that the EPA plans to revoke all existing emission guidelines for light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles shortly after disavowing the scientific rationale that legitimized those restrictions.
Additionally, to support the cancellation of the endangerment finding, the agency aims to question the rigor of the scientific studies it once relied upon, claiming that new developments now cast substantial doubt on their validity, as mentioned in a summary shown to Reuters.
Back in 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the notable Massachusetts v. EPA case that the EPA possesses the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, necessitating a scientific evaluation of their impact on public health.
Zeldin is set to hold an official press briefing on the afternoon of Tuesday in Indiana to further outline these plans.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici. Editing by Marguerita Choy)
