National Academies Confirms EPA’s Climate Findings Amid Controversy

The National Academies of Sciences (NAS) has released a comprehensive report affirming the validity of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2009 determination that greenhouse gas emissions pose a significant threat to public health and welfare in the United States. This conclusion comes amid ongoing political debates surrounding climate regulation, particularly in light of recent actions by the EPA to revisit its earlier findings.

In early 2023, the EPA announced its intention to reassess the 2009 endangerment finding, citing changes in scientific understanding over the past 15 years. The agency argued that advances in climate science warranted a reevaluation of its initial conclusion. Recognizing the potential implications of this reassessment, the NAS took the initiative to assemble a group of scientists to update the understanding of greenhouse gases, completing their report before the public comment period on the EPA’s proposal closed.

The findings of the NAS report are unequivocal: the EPA’s original assertion regarding the dangers of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions remains accurate and is now supported by even more robust evidence. The report emphasizes that the scientific advancements made since 2009 have only reinforced the initial conclusion.

Political Landscape and Regulatory Challenges

The EPA’s endangerment finding has a storied history, originating during the Obama administration when it identified greenhouse gases as a significant threat to the health of Americans. This determination enabled the agency to regulate emissions from various sectors, including transportation and electricity generation. However, many of these regulatory efforts have faced legal challenges or have been abandoned altogether.

The Trump administration sought to dilute environmental regulations rather than challenge the scientific basis of the EPA’s findings. In contrast, the current administration appears more ambitious, attempting to nullify the endangerment finding entirely. The EPA’s rationale includes concerns about the current Supreme Court’s stance toward environmental regulations, which has been perceived as increasingly hostile.

The agency suggested that the Supreme Court’s past rulings cast doubt on its ability to implement greenhouse gas regulations effectively. It is likely that the administration hopes to set the stage for a legal battle that could potentially overturn the landmark ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA, which initially compelled the agency to consider greenhouse gas regulations.

Furthermore, the EPA raised questions about the effectiveness of U.S. regulations in a global context, arguing that even significant reductions in domestic emissions would not substantially mitigate the overall threat posed by global carbon outputs.

NAS Report Highlights and Implications

In response to the EPA’s actions, the NAS undertook a thorough investigation that culminated in a detailed report. The document addresses the various claims made by the EPA and systematically dismantles them with empirical evidence. The authors concluded that “EPA’s 2009 finding that the human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases threaten human health and welfare was accurate, has stood the test of time, and is now reinforced by even stronger evidence.”

The NAS report highlights advancements in our understanding of climate change, citing “longer records, improved and more robust observational networks, and analytical and methodological advances.” These developments have enhanced the ability to detect climate changes and attribute them to greenhouse gas emissions. The report also notes that climate change is negatively impacting agricultural productivity, increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, and stressing water resources and infrastructure across the United States.

Importantly, the NAS countered the EPA’s argument that U.S. emissions are too minor to make a meaningful impact. The report asserts that even small reductions in emissions can significantly decrease the likelihood of damaging climate events, emphasizing that actions taken in the U.S. can contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

With the release of the NAS report, the EPA now faces the challenge of addressing substantial critiques of its position. The agency’s reliance on data from the Department of Energy, which has faced scrutiny for its handling of scientific input, further complicates its argument. These developments will undoubtedly influence the agency’s final decisions regarding the endangerment finding and its future regulatory approach.

As the EPA prepares to finalize its stance, the implications of the NAS report and its findings will likely play a crucial role in shaping the dialogue surrounding climate policy in the United States. The agency’s path forward may hinge on the legal landscape and its willingness to engage with the robust scientific evidence presented by the NAS.