Repeal of EPA’s endangerment finding won’t change the realities of chronic disease

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rescinded its 2009 'endangerment finding,' a ruling that classified six greenhouse gases as threats to public health by worsening climate change. The repeal defies decades of scientific consensus, including the World Health Organization’s designation of climate change as 'the single biggest threat facing humanity.' The decision comes as three-quarters of U.S. adults live with at least one chronic condition, and over half manage two or more, with treatment costs exceeding $1.1 trillion annually. Social and environmental factors—such as air quality, insurance coverage, and food access—play a larger role in chronic disease outcomes than medical care alone. Climate change compounds these challenges, as extreme heat and wildfires directly impact vulnerable populations. Heat kills more people than any other weather-related event, while wildfire smoke triggers inflammation, increasing risks of heart attacks and strokes for those with preexisting conditions. A recent study in *The Lancet* links warmer temperatures to reduced physical activity, worsening epidemics of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Three-quarters of Americans already fail to meet exercise guidelines, and higher temperatures could accelerate these trends. The EPA’s repeal threatens to reverse progress in addressing chronic diseases by allowing greenhouse gas emissions to rise, intensifying climate-related health crises. The move undermines public health efforts, particularly for marginalized communities already disproportionately affected by pollution and limited healthcare access. Experts argue that without regulatory protections, chronic disease rates will worsen as climate impacts grow more severe. The decision prioritizes economic interests over scientific evidence, leaving patients and healthcare providers to confront escalating health risks without systemic support.