James Battles EPA’s Climate Change Denial

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James is throwing down against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accusing the federal agency of a blatant attempt to bury the truth about climate change. James is co-leading a multi-state coalition fighting the EPA’s proposal to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding – the bedrock scientific determination that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. This isn’t about policy debate; it’s about ignoring reality while communities choke on pollution and face increasingly violent weather.

According to documents obtained by Grimy Times, the EPA’s move would effectively gut the agency’s ability to regulate harmful air pollution, throwing decades of progress into jeopardy. “Climate change is real, it is dangerous, and it is already hurting communities in New York and across the nation,” James stated bluntly. “With this reckless proposal, the EPA is ignoring science in favor of abandoning its responsibility to protect the American people.” The AG isn’t mincing words – she’s calling it what it is: a betrayal of public trust.

The coalition’s comment letter submitted to EPA today argues the rollback violates established legal precedent, including binding Supreme Court rulings, and flies in the face of overwhelming scientific consensus. They warn that reversing course will exacerbate the health crisis, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations – kids with asthma, the elderly, low-income communities already bearing the brunt of environmental injustice. Think more extreme heat waves, stronger storms, devastating wildfires, and relentless flooding. The EPA, the letter argues, is legally obligated to uphold the Clean Air Act, which *requires* regulation of pollutants endangering public health.

But the fight doesn’t stop there. A second letter to EPA underscores the importance of maintaining strong federal motor vehicle emissions standards. For years, the EPA has acknowledged the link between vehicle pollution and serious health problems – asthma, heart disease, even premature death. Current standards are projected to prevent over eight billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the next 30 years, saving an estimated $1.82 trillion in climate-related damages. Rolling back those standards isn’t just bad environmental policy, it’s a public health disaster waiting to happen, and a blow to American innovation in the rapidly growing clean vehicle market.

Grimy Times has learned that earlier this month, James led another coalition in challenging a flawed report from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Climate Working Group. The report, allegedly the “scientific basis” for the EPA’s proposed rescission, was rushed together in under two months by known climate skeptics *without* peer review. The coalition argues it’s a violation of scientific integrity and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, riddled with inaccuracies and mischaracterizations. James demanded DOE withdraw the report immediately. Last month, an amicus brief was filed, further solidifying the coalition’s opposition.

This isn’t just a legal battle; it’s a full-on war against denial. James and her fellow Attorneys General are digging in, promising to hold the federal government accountable for prioritizing political agendas over the health and safety of the American people. The stakes are high, the science is clear, and James isn’t backing down. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story, exposing the truth and holding power accountable.