Epa drops controversial climate report from decision to rescind key endangerment finding

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made a notable reversal Thursday when it rescinded a foundational climate regulation while explicitly excluding a controversial Department of Energy report that had initially supported the decision. The EPA’s final rule omitted the disputed study, which argued that the dangers of human-induced climate change were being overstated.

The exclusion marks a significant shift from the EPA’s original position. When the agency first announced its intention to rescind the endangerment finding last year, it prominently cited the Department of Energy report as justification for the regulatory rollback. The endangerment finding serves as a cornerstone of federal climate policy, establishing the scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

According to the final EPA rule, the controversial report was dropped due to “concerns raised by some commenters” during the public review process. The decision to exclude the study suggests the agency faced substantial pushback over the report’s credibility and methodology. Environmental groups and climate scientists had previously criticized the Department of Energy analysis for downplaying established climate science and contradicting mainstream research on global warming impacts.

This regulatory action highlights the ongoing tension between environmental policy and scientific evidence in federal decision-making. While the EPA proceeded with rescinding the endangerment finding, the exclusion of its supporting document raises questions about the scientific foundation underlying this significant climate policy reversal.