Catholics decry EPA as future of US climate regulations heads to the courts

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February 13, 2026

A coal-fired power-plant is seen along the Ohio River in Moundsville, W.Va., in this 2017 file photo. (CNS/Reuters/Brian Snyder)

On Thursday, the Trump administration took its long-promised, long-sought step to erase the central scientific finding that emissions driving climate change endanger public health, and with it ended the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and other polluting industrial sources.

The move drew swift condemnation from Catholic leaders, who characterized the decision as morally indefensible. A high-stakes legal battle is on the horizon, with multiple lawsuits promised, which many predict will ultimately lead to the U.S. Supreme Court, as I report today at EarthBeat.

As a refresher, EPA in 2009 issued the "endangerment finding," a scientific determination that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, pose a danger to human health and welfare. It stemmed from a directive by the Supreme Court in its landmark 2007 decision in Massachusetts v. EPA that ruled greenhouse gas emissions are air pollutants subject to EPA regulation under the Clean Air Act.

Greenhouse gases — primarily released from burning coal, oil and gas — are rapidly heating the planet, as shown through an overwhelming preponderance of scientific evidence, and with it altering climates across the map with more intense heatwaves, extreme storms, droughts, wildfires and flooding.

The endangerment finding has been the bedrock of nearly all federal climate-related regulations and policies in the past 16 years, including limits on emissions from vehicles, coal-fired power plants and other polluting industrial sources. Environmental groups and several states have stated they will challenge the EPA move in court.

Eliminating the endangerment finding "places our country and our planet on a dangerous path," the Catholic Climate Covenant and North American chapter of the Laudato Si' Movement said in a joint statement.

"Today's decision is more than a setback — it is unconscionable," the leading U.S. Catholic environmental organizations said.

Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima, Washington, the episcopal liaison to the Catholic Climate Covenant, told me in an interview the endangerment finding repeal runs counter to church teaching on the environment and dignity of the human person.

"The science is pretty clear on this and it hasn't changed. It's only gotten stronger over time," he said.

Whether greenhouse gases fall under the auspices of the Clean Air Act — which the Supreme Court already answered in the affirmative in Massachusetts — is likely to be relitigated by the Trump administration in the coming court showdowns, said Tseming Yang, head of the Environmental Justice Law & Advocacy Project at Santa Clara University.

A central audience will be the high court's conservative supermajority, of whom three — Chief Justice John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, all of whom are Catholic — all dissented in the 2007 case.

"This entire rulemaking is really designed to appeal to those conservative members of the Supreme Court, hoping that they will, essentially, overturn that 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA decision," Yang told me.

What else is new on EarthBeat:

Heidi Kühn had a vision. Crops now flourish in past war zones once planted with mines.

by Camillo Barone

Roots of Peace has a straightforward proposition: remove lethal land mines and replace them with agriculture. Clear contaminated land, then plant high-value crops that can support families and local economies.

What's happening in other climate news:

'We will see them in court': Environmental lawyers vow to challenge Trump's repeal of key climate finding —Kiley Bense for Inside Climate News

A look at false claims made by the Trump administration as it revokes a key scientific finding —Melissa Goldin for the Associated Press

Trump allies near 'total victory' in wiping out U.S. climate regulation —Lisa Friedman and Maxine Joselow for The New York Times

Trump's environmental rollbacks contradict RFK Jr's healthy America promise, report finds —Dharna Noor for the Guardian

Black residents win key ruling in 'Cancer Alley' environmental racism case —Adam Mahoney for Capital B

How Ukraine is turning to renewables to keep heat and lights on —Paul Hockenos for Yale Environment 360

Potomac wastewater spill appears to be largest in US history —Tara Suter for The Hill

The Olympics are ditching PFAS waxes — and the 'ridiculous' speed they gave skiers —Joseph Winters and Tik Root for Grist

Final Beat:

Somehow, Lent 2026 is already around the corner.

With Ash Wednesday next week, it's become more common for some Catholics to consider the environment as part of their fasting and prayer during the 40-day season of reflection and repentance. Numerous guides have been created to add an ecological spirituality dimension.

Are you planning to incorporate environmental stewardship into your Lent? Are you abstaining from meat the full 40 days? Does your parish or school make a point of avoiding disposable plastics or limiting waste at Friday fish fries? If so, I want to hear about it. Send an email to broewe@ncronline.org; your action or practice could become part of a future article.

As always, thanks for reading EarthBeat.

Brian Roewe
Environment Correspondent
National Catholic Reporter
broewe@ncronline.org