UCS Submits Comments Opposing EPA’s Proposal to Rescind the Endangerment Finding, Vehicle Standards

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) filed comments today on behalf of its half a million supporters and its network of more than 21,000 scientists to voice strong opposition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Standards for vehicles. UCS also submitted a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin that was signed by more than 1,000 scientists.

"The EPA's damaging proposal to undo the bedrock Endangerment Finding is contrary to science, law and economics," writes UCS. "It is a blatant attempt to evade the agency's responsibility and obligation under the Clean Air Act to regulate the health-harming heat-trapping emissions driving climate change. We urge the EPA to abandon this proposal and instead focus on protecting people's health from the worsening impacts of climate change by limiting global warming pollution from vehicles, power plants, oil and gas operations and other sources."

The comments by UCS also rebuke EPA's efforts to sow disinformation about climate science, including through the agency's heavy reliance on a sham report by the so-called Climate Working Group (CWG), a set of five known climate contrarians commissioned by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright. The report is rife with inaccuracies, deliberately cherry-picks and mischaracterizes data, and has failed to undergo a rigorous scientific review process.

"EPA's efforts to sow disinformation about climate science are among the most glaring flaws in this proposal and are truly alarming in terms of the consequences for public well-being," writes UCS. "The record on the science is clear, and the agency cannot claim discretion in manufacturing its own set of 'alternative facts' to suit its purposes."

In addition to submitting comments, UCS joined the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in filing a lawsuit challenging DOE and EPA's secretive and biased process to produce and use the CWG report, in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Last week, a federal judge ruled the CWG is not exempt from FACA, as the Trump administration had claimed, granting in part a motion by UCS and EDF for summary judgment. Another hearing is expected soon.

EPA's attempts to undermine or delay climate action come at a time when scientists warn of a high likelihood that the world will breach 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming on a long-term basis within the next decade with the planet having already crossed this threshold for a full year in 2024.

UCS Experts Available:

• Dr. Rachel Cleetus, the policy director in the Climate and Energy Program at UCS. She is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Click here to view her biography.   
• Dr. Dave Cooke, a senior scientist in the Clean Transportation Program at UCS. He is based in Washington, D.C. Click here to view his biography.
• Dr. Carlos Martinez, a senior climate scientist at UCS. He is based in Washington, D.C. Click here to view his biography.
• Julie McNamara, the associate policy director in the Climate and Energy Program at UCS. She is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Click here to view her biography.
• Dr. Delta Merner, lead scientist for the Science Hub for Climate Litigation in the Climate and Energy Program at UCS. She is based in Washington, D.C. Click here to view her biography.

UCS experts have experience doing live and taped TV, radio and print interviews with local, state, national and international media outlets. To speak with a UCS scientist or analyst, please contact UCS Media Director Ashley Siefert Nunes via email at [email protected] or by phone at +1 952-239-0199.

Additional UCS Resources:

• UCS comments submitted on September 2 to DOE strongly opposing the CWG report.
• UCS blog posts on the endangerment finding, vehicle standards, scientific integrity, and disinformation.