Upholding EPA’s Global Warming Endangerment Finding

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that human activities are driving climate change, which poses a major threat to our planet. This finding has been unsuccessfully challenged by the fossil fuel industry and its allies. Earthjustice helped defend the EPA’s finding to ensure that climate progress is not reversed.

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Case Overview

Earthjustice is co-counsel for Environmental Defense Fund, opposing industry lawsuits challenging the U.S. EPA’s scientific finding that global warming pollution endangers the public. In 2009, the EPA determined that emissions of greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles contribute to pollution that causes climate change, which in turn threatens human health and the environment.

In 2010, this finding led the EPA to issue the first-ever U.S. federal greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and trucks. These standards will prevent emissions of nearly one billion tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Industry’s challenges to the endangerment finding and vehicle standards were rejected in 2012 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and in 2013, the Supreme Court rejected industry’s effort to overturn that D.C. Circuit ruling.

In 2009, EPA determined that emissions of greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles contribute to pollution that causes climate change.
In 2009, EPA determined that emissions of greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles contribute to pollution that causes climate change. (Photo courtesy of Steven Worster.)

Case Updates

A coal-fired power plant.
August 8, 2025 video

Endangerment Finding Repealed

Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency is repealing the "endangerment finding" — the scientific finding that mandates the government to protect the public against climate pollution.

A gas flare is seen at an oil well site on July 26, 2013 outside Williston, North Dakota. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
August 1, 2025 From the Experts

A Legal Analysis of the Trump EPA’s Plan to Revoke the Endangerment Finding

The EPA's proposal rejects mainstream science and misunderstands the law.

Dark gray clouds of steam emerge from the top of a smokestack at night, lit by red lights on the smokestack with a dark blue sky in the background.
July 29, 2025 Article

Why the EPA’s Endangerment Finding Matters

The EPA said greenhouse gases are a risk to public health. Scientists and the courts have affirmed it. Now, Trump’s EPA wants to pretend that climate change isn't a problem.