EPA Leader Zeldin Claims 2009 Climate 'Endangerment' Warnings Were Overstated

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the Trump administration's move to rescind the 2009 climate 'endangerment' finding, asserting that many early warnings about climate risks did not materialize as predicted. During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Zeldin stated, "Many of the pessimistic scientific views from 2009 did not come to pass, and we now have data from 2025 to inform our decisions instead of outdated assumptions." This scientific finding, established in 2009, has underpinned numerous regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and safeguarding public health. The proposed repeal suggests that rising greenhouse gases are primarily driven by international sources and have not resulted in the anticipated adverse impacts within the United States, raising questions about the scientific basis of existing climate policies. Zeldin emphasized that climate change has always been a natural phenomenon, advocating for energy independence domestically to benefit the economy, environment, and national security. Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather commented that scientific consensus on climate change has strengthened since 2009, with no new evidence challenging the ...