The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “endangerment finding” of 2009

The process that led to the endangerment finding began in October 1999 and concluded in December 2009

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "Endangerment Finding," established in 2009, is a pivotal document, which concluded that greenhouse gases threaten human health and welfare.  The finding remains a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy, but its future is often debated.

Here are some pros and cons:

Pros

• Scientific Basis: The finding is grounded in robust scientific evidence, emphasizing the harmful effects of greenhouse gases.

• Regulatory Framework: It enables the EPA to regulate emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other sources under the Clean Air Act.

• Climate Action: Supports efforts to mitigate climate change by addressing emissions at their source.

Cons

• Economic Concerns: Critics argue that regulations stemming from the endangerment finding could impose significant costs on industries.

• Legal Challenges: The finding has faced opposition and attempts to revoke it, leading to prolonged legal battles.

• Policy Debates: Some view it as overreach, questioning the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

Here are links to articles that provide additional background on the endangerment finding.

• 2025-03-25 What the EPA’s “endangerment finding” is and why it’s being challenged (ARSTECHNICA John Timmer) - https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/03/how-trumps-epa-hopes-to-avoid-greenhouse-gas-regulations/

• 2025-03-19 Dissecting the attacks on the “endangerment finding” (LEGALPLANET Dan Farber) - https://legal-planet.org/2025/03/17/dissecting-the-attacks-on-the-endangerment-finding/

• 2025-03-20 Revoking EPA’s endangerment finding – the keystone of US climate policies – won’t be simple and could have unintended consequences (RESILIENCE Patrick Parenteau) - https://www.resilience.org/stories/2025-03-20/revoking-epas-endangerment-finding-the-keystone-of-us-climate-policies-wont-be-simple-and-could-have-unintended-consequences/

The scientific conclusions behind the EPA’s “Endangerment Finding” remain strong and widely accepted. The consensus among climate scientists is that human activities, especially the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, are the main causes of global warming. This conclusion is supported by extensive peer-reviewed research and endorsed by leading scientific organizations worldwide.

For example, NASA and other leading institutions report that Earth's surface temperatures are rising at unprecedented rates, with human activities being the dominant cause. Scientific literature surveys show near-unanimous agreement on this point, with studies consistently affirming the role of greenhouse gases in climate change.

Additionally, scientists have documented how global warming influences extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, and heavy precipitation, further validating the risks outlined in the Endangerment Finding. These findings emphasize the growing dangers of climate change and its direct impact on human health and the environment.

The following articles offer additional background on the scientific conclusions.

• 2025-03-24 Scientific Consensus on Climate Change (NASA) - https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/scientific-consensus/

• 2025-03-24 Scientific consensus on climate change (WIKIPEDIA) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_consensus_on_climate_change

• 2018-12-13 Scientific basis for EPA’s endangerment finding is stronger than ever (SWIE) - https://sustainability.stanford.edu/news/scientific-basis-epas-endangerment-finding-stronger-ever

• 2025-02-28 Scientists say EPA just needs to look around the world to see the growing dangers of climate change (PBS) https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/scientists-say-epa-just-needs-to-look-around-the-world-to-see-the-growing-dangers-of-climate-change

Critics of the EPA's Endangerment Finding often focus on four arguments:

1. Economic Impact: They argue that regulations stemming from the findings impose significant costs on industries, potentially harming economic growth and competitiveness.

2. Scientific Disputes: Some critics question the scientific evidence linking greenhouse gases to public health risks, suggesting that the conclusions may be overstated or incomplete.

3. Legal Overreach: There are claims that the EPA exceeded its authority under the Clean Air Act by using the endangerment finding to regulate greenhouse gases, which some believe were not originally intended to be covered by the Act.

4. Policy Alternatives: Opponents sometimes advocate for non-regulatory approaches, such as market-based solutions or voluntary measures, instead of strict emissions controls.

Here is an article that summarizes the critique of the endangerment finding.

• 2025-03-18 A bedrock document of climate alarmism may soon be cracked, and it’s about time (DISCOURSE Sam Kazman) -https://www.discoursemagazine.com/p/a-bedrock-document-of-climate-alarmism