Rabbi Jennie Rosenn reacts to the official announcement of the EPA to repeal the Endangerment Finding, which established that greenhouse gas emissions endanger life and safety of people and climate.
The Endangerment Finding is the foundation that establishes the scientific truth that greenhouse gas emissions released by fossil fuels cause harm. It’s the bedrock upon which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can fulfill its mission: “to protect human health and the environment.”
Repealing the Finding is like tossing out the Ten Commandments. EPA Administrator Zeldin is not only denying something that’s fundamentally true about the world, but he is eliminating what enables our government to live and act in alignment with our core values.
In an ironic and shameful twist, this move to eradicate long established scientific findings is purposely aimed to reward one narrow interest that actually knows the truth: the fossil fuel industry. Over 50 years ago, the industry documented findings that greenhouse gas emissions heat the planet and cause climate destruction. Since then, it has waged an all out campaign to deny, distract, and destroy.
The 2009 Endangerment Finding was a robust, rigorous documentation of scientific proof that enabled the government to set and implement rules which sought to reduce emissions and safeguard our collective health and future.
As the EPA capitulates to the power and money of the fossil fuel industry, we need to redouble our efforts to push back against corporate polluters and the politicians – like Administrator Zeldin – who do their bidding.