Ann Arbor Times

University of Michigan experts are ready to discuss the potential repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which identified greenhouse gas emissions as harmful to human health.

Andy Hoffman, Holcim (US) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, remarked on the implications: “The EPA’s potential decision to rescind the endangerment finding on climate change would, in effect, be saying that climate change is not a threat. We can deny that threat, but the insurance industry most certainly is not, with increasing storm frequency and severity leading to rising property insurance rates, reduced coverage, increased deductibles, more exclusions and, at the extreme, complete withdrawal from certain markets.”

Richard Rood, professor emeritus of climate and space sciences and engineering at the university, commented on science and policy intersections: “All told, we see a strategy emerging that harkens back to ‘If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.’ That is if you don’t measure it, then it cannot be managed or regulated."

Ann Jeffers from civil and environmental engineering expressed concerns about exacerbating climate-related disasters: “Removing restrictions on carbon emissions will only exacerbate climate-related disasters. If you think America has a wildfire problem now, just wait."

Liesl Eichler Clark of the School for Environment and Sustainability emphasized ongoing efforts in Michigan: “Americans are suffering on a daily basis from our changing climate—from devastating floods to hurricanes to the now-commonplace challenge of wildfires—to name just a few of the harms."

Alexander Rodriguez from computer science and engineering discussed heatwave forecasting: “Heatwaves are a major contributor to deaths in urban areas. For example, extreme heat killed over 2,000 people across 12 major European cities this June and July..."

The experts highlighted various aspects of how rescinding this finding could impact both policy-making and public health.