The New York State DEC says a move by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to repeal a 2009 finding regarding greenhouse gas emissions will harm New Yorkers. DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton released a statement on Tuesday in response to the EPA's move on the "endangerment finding," which determined that the current and projected concentrations of six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, "endanger both the public health and the public welfare of current and future generations." Zeldin argues that the EPA lacked the legal authority to determine that those gases endanger public health and welfare.
Here is the full statement from DEC Commissioner Lefton:
The Trump administration is moving our country backwards, eroding a decade of progress on clean air and ignoring science, threatening public health, and putting New Yorkers at risk. These policy shifts, which disregard established scientific consensus, are projected to increase harmful air pollutants and tailpipe emissions. The consequences could be significant, leading to serious public health implications, including heightened risks for asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other respiratory ailments. Such actions undermine the critical work being done to safeguard the health, environment, and well-being of all citizens.
In contrast to the federal government taking us backwards, under the direction of Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State is investing billions of dollars transitioning to clean transportation. This investment is not just about addressing climate change; it is a direct public health strategy to improve air quality and the overall quality of life. Now is the time to push forward, not retreat, on environmental action.
