U.S. EPA proposes eliminating landmark finding that underpins public health and climate regulations
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U.S. EPA proposes eliminating landmark finding that underpins public health and climate regulations
EPA proposed to repeal the greenhouse gas endangerment finding and over a decade of motor vehicle greenhouse gas standards. EPA projected the vehicles rules would collectively lead to emissions reductions of over 20 billion metric tons of CO 2 e, millions of tons of nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Even with incomplete accounting of their benefits, EPA also estimated these rules would save more than 500 lives per year by 2028. Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
“By seeking to rescind the endangerment finding and the vehicle emissions standards, EPA is taking a drastic step in its attack on clean air regulations – needlessly putting the health of millions of Americans at risk,” said Conrad Schneider, senior director, U.S. at Clean Air Task Force (CATF). “The administration is using pollution regulations as a scapegoat in its flawed approach to energy affordability, placing its bets on dubious cost savings instead of tangible, evidence-based public health and climate benefits. We are dismayed that an administration that claims it cares about cleaner, healthier, and safer air is seeking to dismantle the very protections that are required for those conditions.”
“The science and law are simple and clear,” said Shaun Goho, legal director at CATF. Greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and the climate, and the Clean Air Act mandates that EPA regulates harmful air pollution. The administration blatantly disregards both by seeking to rescind the longstanding and firmly established endangerment finding. This unlawful move would defang the Clean Air Act – a critical tool to reduce pollution and address climate change – and Americans will needlessly suffer. Despite what the administration says, we don’t have to sacrifice public health for affordability. We urge EPA to abandon this deeply cynical and unproductive proposal.”
“The transportation sector is the highest polluting sector in the United States, and we know that reducing tailpipe emissions saves lives and helps combat climate change,” said Veronica Saltzman, attorney at CATF. “Despite these facts, EPA proposes to repeal greenhouse gas emissions standards for everything from small cars to pickup trucks to tractor-trailers – all in a single rulemaking. According to EPA’s own projections, these rules would lead to massive emissions reductions of both greenhouse gases and conventional air pollutants. Eliminating these regulations will be detrimental to public health and the climate.”
EPA projected the vehicles rules, together with other critical greenhouse gas regulations it intends to repeal, would collectively lead to emissions reductions of over 20 billion metric tons of CO 2 e, millions of tons of nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide, and hundreds of thousands of tons of fine particulate matter over the next several decades. Even with incomplete accounting of their benefits, EPA also estimated these rules would save more than 500 lives per year by 2028.
Samantha Sadowski, Senior Communications Manager, U.S., ssadowski@catf.us, +1 202-440-1717
About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With more than 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.