U.S. federal climate change agency ends rule that treats Carbon Dioxide as a ‘threat to public health’

In a landmark policy reversal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially rescinded the 2009 Carbon Dioxide Endangerment Finding, a decision that has long served as the legal foundation for sweeping federal regulations targeting greenhouse gas emissions.

The move, celebrated by climate policy skeptics, marks a significant departure from the regulatory framework that has guided U.S. climate policy for over a decade.

The Endangerment Finding had classified carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as threats to public health and welfare, justifying regulations on industries, transportation, and energy sectors. Critics, however, have long argued that the finding relied heavily on speculative computer models and overstated risks, pointing to a disconnect between projections and actual climate data.

The EPA’s decision follows years of scrutiny and public debate over the accuracy of climate models, the real-world impacts of regulations, and the uneven global landscape of emissions. Proponents of the repeal argue that the U.S. has shouldered disproportionate economic burdens while major emitters like China and India continue expanding coal use with minimal restraint.

Climate skeptics, including long-time critic Anthony Watts and platforms such as Watts Up With That praised the EPA’s move as a long-overdue return to evidence-based policymaking. “This is not about denying environmental responsibility,” Watts said. “It’s about rejecting flawed science and costly policies that failed to deliver meaningful climate benefits.”

The ruling is expected to significantly reshape the Trump administration’s climate agenda and could prompt legal and political challenges from environmental groups and states. Meanwhile, supporters of the rollback see it as a victory for free inquiry, scientific transparency, and more pragmatic environmental stewardship.

Image credit: Benoît Deschasaux