U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Move to Revoke Climate Protection Threatens Vulnerable Communities

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has proposed revoking the 2009 greenhouse-gas endangerment finding, a key policy that underpins federal climate regulations. While Zeldin claims this rollback would reduce costs, it would also remove limits on emissions from industries and vehicles under the Clean Air Act.

This change disproportionately affects Black communities, already 80% more vulnerable to pollution-related deaths in cities like Cleveland. The move contradicts a recent International Court of Justice ruling, which stated countries must control greenhouse gases or face legal responsibility for harm caused.

The endangerment finding, introduced during the Obama era, classified carbon dioxide as a public health threat—allowing regulators to enforce cleaner vehicle standards and reduce industrial emissions. Its repeal could leave low-income and historically redlined communities more exposed to extreme heat, toxic air, and severe storms. Experts warn this decision could reverse decades of progress and lead to increased illness, economic hardship, and climate-related deaths.

31-07-2025