19 February, 2026
The US EPA has repealed a 2009 scientific determination that greenhouse gas emissions threaten public health — the legal basis for US climate regulations. The finding has served as the legal basis for regulating emissions from vehicles, power plants and industrial sources for over 16 years.
The decision removes the foundation for nearly all US climate regulations under the Clean Air Act. It comes despite an independent September 2025 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which stated that the evidence linking greenhouse gas emissions to harm to human health is “beyond scientific dispute.”
Why this matters for global public health
Air pollution and climate change are among the most significant threats to respiratory health globally. Greenhouse gas emissions and the fossil fuel combustion that drives them contribute directly to poor air quality, which worsens asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory infections, increases hospital admissions, and shortens lives.
Climate change is also increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events — heatwaves, wildfires and flooding — all of which have direct consequences for lung health. These links are supported by decades of peer-reviewed research.
Air pollution and emissions do not respect borders, and decisions that undermine environmental protections in one country can affect global efforts to improve air quality and reduce the burden of chronic disease.
Prof. Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko, President of the European Respiratory Society, said: “As physicians and scientists, we see every day how air pollution and climate change affect our patients. The science on this is unambiguous — greenhouse gas emissions harm human health. Repealing a scientific finding does not change the evidence. It simply removes the obligation to act on it. ERS will continue to stand by the science that protects the air people breathe, and we urge policymakers to stay guided by the facts to protect everyone’s health and the future of our planet.”
Prof. Barbara Hoffmann, Advocacy Council Chair of the European Respiratory Society, said: “The decision to override a scientific finding that has been independently confirmed and upheld by courts is deeply concerning. Evidence-based regulation of air pollution saves lives. When policy moves away from science, the people who suffer most are those already living with disease, and the communities least able to protect themselves. We urge all governments to keep scientific evidence at the centre of decisions that affect public health.”
This move follows the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2026, which the WHO described as: “a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe.” Together, these developments represent a significant weakening of the scientific and multilateral frameworks that protect global public health.
Defending science, protecting public health
ERS and the European Lung Foundation (ELF) are campaigning to defend scientific integrity and protect public health. The Defend Science, Protect Health campaign identifies three urgent priorities: defending independent science, countering mis- and disinformation, and strengthening international collaboration.