'Nothing but badness for human health': Doctor slams EPA's move on greenhouse gas

Regulatory Changes & Policy Impact - EPA is planning to repeal the 2009 endangerment finding, which declared greenhouse gases a threat to public health, reversing climate change policy [1] - The 2009 declaration has served as the basis for climate regulations, such as limiting emissions from cars and power plants [1] - The EPA administration is calling the rollback the largest deregulatory action in US history [2] - The Supreme Court directed the EPA to determine if greenhouse gases are harmful to human health, leading to the endangerment finding [4] - The endangerment finding was codified into law, requiring the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions [5] - Repealing the endangerment finding removes the underlying reason to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants [14] Health & Environmental Concerns - Increased ER visits are observed due to coughing from wildfire smoke exposure and prolonged traffic exposure [7] - Deaths from extreme heat have reached unprecedented levels, and air pollution is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide [8] - Without regulations, gas-emitting vehicles will no longer be held to emission standards, negatively impacting human health [9] - Removing greenhouse gas regulations will accelerate the impact of climate change [10] Vehicle Emission Standards - Newer generations of combustion engine vehicles are subject to health standards due to greenhouse gases being historically viewed as harmful [12] - Without limits, car makers may face increased costs to adhere to new emissions standards, but there are downstream benefits for the planet and health [12][13]