Save the Redwoods League Opposes Repeal of Greenhouse Gas “Endangerment Finding” by Environmental Protection Agency

San Francisco, Calif. (February 13, 2026) — Save the Redwoods League today objects to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to repeal its own landmark 2009 finding that greenhouse gases are hastening climate change and thus pose a threat to public health. Known as the “endangerment finding,” it has served as the legal framework for the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases and to set emission standards for motor vehicles and fossil fuel companies.  

As a science-based organization that emphasizes the importance of climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation, Save the Redwoods League opposes this policy shift that disregards science and will greatly set back efforts to reduce the continued warming of our planet.

There is clear science proving that climate change is a global threat and that greenhouse gas emissions created by the burning of fossil fuels are the primary driver of its acceleration. Revoking the endangerment finding upends more than a decade of U.S. policies focused on reducing air pollution, prioritizing public health and combating climate change. More dangerously, repealing the finding will enable the largest emitters of these gases to operate without any meaningful regulations.

“Greenhouse gas emissions are the fundamental cause of modern climate change and the science underpinning this finding is unequivocal. Ignoring this science won’t make it go away,” said Dr. Chris Swanston, director of science at Save the Redwoods League. “Throwing out the EPA’s endangerment finding opens the floodgates for unchecked emissions. We know the consequences—we’re experiencing them now in the form of extreme wildfires, heatwaves, storms and floods. This shift in policy will only make these extreme weather events worse.”

Redwood forests are threatened by climate change, yet also act as a potent nature-based climate solution—old-growth redwoods store more carbon per acre than any other forest type on the planet. If allowed to stand without legal challenge, this policy change will have catastrophic consequences in the long term. Extreme weather events, such as wildfires, floods and droughts, are fueled by climate change. Unregulated greenhouse gas emissions will put our communities and our natural spaces, including redwood forests, at higher risk of these disasters.

Policies designed to reduce emissions, like the endangerment finding, have enabled significant progress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions this century. From 2005-2023, U.S. net emissions dropped by 17.4% due to a shift from coal to natural gas use, increased use of renewable energy and a leveling of electricity demand.

The EPA must place public and environmental health above politics and continue adhering to the science that led to the endangerment finding more than a decade ago.

Save the Redwoods League revitalizes coast redwood and giant sequoia forests across California’s redwood range. In partnership with state and federal agencies, Tribes, and communities, we have conserved more than 220,000 acres in 76 parks and preserves and restored 37,000 acres. Our work bolsters carbon storage, strengthens wildfire resilience, benefits local economies, and safeguards iconic landscapes enjoyed by millions.

Tags: 2026, Press Release