The Fight Over US Climate Rules Is Just Beginning

"On Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to roll back the endangerment finding, which underpins the US's ability to regulate the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. The rollback, the result of more than 15 years of work from right-wing special interest groups, represents the most aggressive move against climate regulation in the US to date-and will introduce a lengthy fight that's almost certain to wind up in front of the Supreme Court."

"The move could also create significant legal and regulatory uncertainty for a wide swath of industries, from oil companies fighting state and local climate lawsuits to car companies attempting to plan production of new models in the midst of an ongoing legal fight. The Clean Air Act mandates that the EPA regulate any type of air pollution that might constitute a hazard to public health and welfare."

"The endangerment finding is a 2009 ruling that creates a scientific and legal basis for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. This finding is the bedrock for every climate-based regulation the agency has issued since, from restrictions on power plants to emissions standards for cars. The original finding was mandated by a 2007 Supreme Court decision, Massachusetts v. EPA, in a case brought by the state against the Bush administration, challenging it for not taking action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles."

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to roll back the endangerment finding that underlies federal authority to regulate greenhouse gases. The rollback, driven by right-wing special interest efforts over more than 15 years, represents the most aggressive U.S. move against climate regulation and will likely trigger prolonged litigation reaching the Supreme Court. The change could create significant legal and regulatory uncertainty for industries including oil companies facing climate lawsuits and automakers planning vehicle production amid unsettled emissions standards. The Clean Air Act requires EPA regulation of air pollutants that harm public health and welfare, and the 2009 endangerment finding provided the scientific and legal basis for climate rules.

Read at WIRED