The National Academies of Sciences (NAS) has announced it will release a report in response to recent actions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even in light of potential congressional scrutiny over its findings. This new report significantly challenges the assertions made by the EPA.
Direct and Unambiguous
The NAS report is straightforward, emphasizing a clear message: the information gathered since the original endangerment finding supports its validity. The authors affirm, “EPA’s 2009 finding that human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases threaten human health and welfare was accurate, has withstood the test of time, and is now bolstered by even stronger evidence.”
This evidence points to advancements in our understanding of climate science. The report references “longer records, improved and more robust observational networks, and analytical and methodological advances” that have enhanced our ability to detect climate changes and reliably link them to greenhouse gas emissions. It notes that these climate-related changes are currently impacting the welfare of the U.S. population through various means, including limitations on agricultural productivity, damage from wildfires, water scarcity issues, and pressures on infrastructure.
The implications of climate change extend beyond indirect effects; direct impacts on public health are also significant:
Climate change intensifies risks for humans exposed to extreme heat, ground-level ozone, airborne particulate matter, and severe weather events, as well as airborne allergens, leading to increases in cardiovascular, respiratory, and other health issues. Furthermore, climate change has heightened exposure to pollutants from wildfire smoke and dust, which are linked to negative health outcomes. The worsening severity of various extreme events has resulted in injury, illness, and fatalities in affected populations. The rise in health effects related to climate-sensitive infectious diseases—particularly those transmitted by insects or contaminated water—has also become a pressing concern.
The NAS report addresses another argument made by government officials—that U.S. emissions are too minimal to have any significant impact. It refutes this claim, stating that even minor increases in emissions are likely to heighten the risk of severe climate-related events for decades, bringing the world closer to critical tipping points in the climate system. Consequently, reducing U.S. emissions is vital for mitigating these risks.
