“Trump and his handpicked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are trying to tear the Endangerment Finding apart. Without [it], we will lose the legal foundation to hold polluters accountable for the emissions that are exacerbating climate change,” said Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (AZ-3) at a recent event hosted by Moms Clean Air Force. About 130 concerned people from across the nation attended the Endangerment Finding Action Workshop to learn from a panel of experts what the finding is and how to make sure it remains intact now that it’s under threat.
Essentially the Endangerment Finding, which has been in place for over 15 years, classifies greenhouse gases as pollutants under the Clean Air Act, which allows EPA to regulate emissions from a variety of sources. Participants of the webinar learned how to support the finding by writing public comments. If you weren’t able to attend, here’s how you too can get involved to demand EPA continue to hold polluters accountable.
Tell Administrator Zeldin: Cutting Climate Pollution Is Essential for Our Families’ Health
Explaining the Endangerment Finding
Back in January, the Trump administration issued an executive order for the EPA Administrator to review the “legality and continuing applicability” of the Endangerment Finding. Despite courts continually affirming its legality and continued scientific consensus that greenhouse gases are furthering global warming and threatening human health, EPA announced its proposal to repeal the rule in July.
EPA’s mission is to “protect human health and the environment,” but stripping away the Endangerment Finding would do the exact opposite. Moms’ Co-founder and Director Dominque Browning slammed this decision as “shameful, reckless, and immoral” in a recent statement. Undermining the foundational rule will allow the largest sources of climate pollution—including power plants, transportation, and oil and gas operations—to emit more, directly jeopardizing the health of children and families.
“I’m fighting back against Trump and Republicans’ efforts to dismantle climate measures and environmental protections … but we have to do this together,” Rep. Ansari said, urging attendees to write comments or submit testimony to EPA.
Expert panel
Along with Rep. Ansari, the panelists speaking on the impacts of revoking the Endangerment Finding were Lisa Patel from the Medical Society Consortium of Climate and Health, LaTricea Adams from Young Gifted & Green, Robin Cooper from the Climate Psychiatry Alliance, Meisei Gonzalez from GreenLatinos, and Maddie Page from Climate Action Campaign.
Dr. Patel warned that “evidence is mounting day by day” that the air pollution associated with greenhouse gas emissions from sources like tailpipes and power plants and with climate-fueled extreme weather events like wildfires will be the greatest health challenge to children today, explaining that as pediatrician, she has observed more kids coming in with bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma.
Dr. Cooper concurred, explaining these “emissions have profound impacts on brain functioning and mental health,” leading to greater risk of depression, anxiety, suicide, and accelerated dementia.
LaTricea emphasized an even greater risk to young people of color who are already experiencing legacy pollution from past industrial activities in their communities, stating that 71% of African Americans live in counties in violation of federal air pollution standards. Meisei underscored the data, telling his personal story of growing up next to a power plant, an experience shared by 1.6 million Latinos across the country who live near oil and gas wells.
Maddie echoed the panelists’ concerns, noting that it’s impossible to deny the danger of global warming, particularly as we watch extreme weather events, such as the Texas floods, wreak havoc on communities.
Why and how to write public comments
The idea that EPA would try to sabotage climate protections is absurd and overwhelming. What can the average person even do? That’s where public comments come in. Moms’ Project Manager Sam Schmitz called written public comments the “foundation of advocacy.” They allow anyone to directly express an opinion to a federal agency like EPA. Agencies are required to read all comments, and they formally become part of the permanent public record.
If you’re motivated and interested in submitting comments, it’s simple. Sam says a tried-and-true impactful framework is:
- Introduce yourself and make a clear ask.
- Tell a personal story. How does climate pollution impact you?
- Incorporate scientific or procedural facts.
- Sum up your argument and make the ask again.
“This structure can be used at any regulatory body… Being able to formulate a story that is compelling and factual is really impactful and should make you feel empowered to do this at any other hearing,” Sam said. “This is the takeaway we hope lives way beyond this webinar.”
Watch the full recording of the workshop and then submit your own comment.
Tell Administrator Zeldin: Cutting Climate Pollution Is Essential for Our Families’ Health