Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has unveiled a sweeping deregulatory plan on the ‘Ruthless’ podcast, aiming to rescind the Obama administration’s 2009 endangerment finding that classified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. The move, which Zeldin described as the ‘largest deregulatory action in the history of America,’ marks a significant shift in environmental policy under the current administration. The endangerment finding, part of the Clean Air Act, was a key foundation for regulations on carbon emissions and other pollutants.
Zeldin’s decision to reverse this policy is expected to have broad implications for industries, particularly those in energy and transportation, which have long been subject to stringent emissions standards. The repeal of the endangerment finding could lead to the relaxation of rules on emissions, potentially reducing compliance costs for businesses but also sparking concerns over environmental protections and public health risks. Environmental advocates and climate scientists have already raised alarms about the potential impact on climate change mitigation efforts in the U.S.
The announcement comes amid growing debates over the role of federal regulations in addressing climate change. While some argue that deregulation could spur economic growth and innovation, others warn that it may undermine progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting international climate goals. As the EPA moves forward with implementing this policy shift, the focus will likely turn to the legal and regulatory challenges that could arise in the process.