The EPA plans to remove all references to climate change, as if it does not exist.

The legislation that created the EPA described its mission: “to protect human health and the environment” so ignoring climate change raises two questions. Does climate change exist, and if it does, will human health suffer? Although not mentioned, a third point can’t be ignored and that relates to costs and savings.

As to whether climate change is real, see this from the respected Pew Research Foundation: “The majority of climate scientists, including 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists, agree that humans are causing global warming and climate change. This consensus is largely due to the rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) caused by human activities, such as fossil fuel combustion.

Most importantly, the EPA has crafted a proposal that would undo the government’s “endangerment finding,” a 2009 determination that pollutants from burning fossil fuels, such as carbon dioxide and methane, can be regulated under the Clean Air Act. The finding has long served as the foundation for a host of policies and rules to address climate change.

All of this is well summarized in this link to CBS News, which I strongly recommend you read.. Here is a short excerpt.

According to an EPA press release, revoking the endangerment finding will save “Americans $54 billion in costs annually through the repeal of all greenhouse gas standards.”  But the EPA’s own regulatory impact report says limiting emissions for cars and trucks is expected to generate more than $2.1 trillion in net benefits over the next 30 years, including $820 billion in fuel savings and $1.8 trillion in public health and climate benefits.

Overturn the endangerment finding? Doing so worsens the environment, makes us less healthy and is more expensive. Not a good idea

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