Smoke from a wildfire at the entrance area of Denali National Park hovers on June 30, 2024, on the hillsides behind hotels and businesses serving tourists. (Photo provided by National Park Service)
In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency released a historic Endangerment Finding, which concluded that six greenhouse gas emissions contribute to air pollution and endanger public health and well-being. This pollution is one of the key drivers of climate change, which can also result in more intense storms, increased drought and wildfires, and risks to human life.
The endangerment finding was reaffirmed in 2016, when the EPA finalized the rule for aircraft, stating that greenhouse gases from a variety of aircraft engines cause or contribute to air pollution that endanger public health and welfare. When these findings were released, it served as the legal and scientific basis for the EPA to issue regulations around emissions and other important health protections.
On March 12, 2025, the Trump administration made a significant and divisive announcement regarding the endangerment finding: the EPA would be starting a formal reconsideration and potential repeal of the 2016 finding. When this announcement was made, the details were drowned out or under-reported by news media, which has led to a lack of understanding by many Americans and communities of its consequences.
For Alaskans, the repeal of the endangerment finding will have vastly negative consequences. Without the regulation of pollutants contributing to climate change, Alaska will likely see an increase of intensity in coastal storms and wildfires. Famous storms, like Typhoon Merbok, and other severe weather events in Alaska serve as stark reminders of the devastating impacts of climate change. In a state where 82% of our communities can only be reached either by plane or boat, an increase in powerful storms puts our most vulnerable populations, including Alaskan Native communities, in danger.
If the EPA does proceed to roll back the endangerment finding, we will likely see a sharp decrease in regulations and legal protections, like the Clean Air Act, that protect the health of average Americans. If these protections are repealed, we could see a dramatic rise in adverse health outcomes. Currently, there are approximately 266 million people in the U.S. (8.2 percent of the population) who have asthma, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There are around 60,000 Alaskans who suffer from asthma, which is the leading cause of school absenteeism and childhood emergency room visits, and is the fourth leading cause of work loss in adults. In 2021, eleven Alaskans died from complications due to asthma. Without regulations to ensure the air we breathe is pollutant-free, we are risking our families’ health.
Alaskans have the opportunity to submit public comments to the EPA on the endangerment finding through September 22.
Whether a Democrat, a Republican – the health of this planet and your communities should be one of the most critical issues. We all deserve a home where we breathe clean air and drink clean water. The scientific community is standing against the repeal, and the evidence is clear and abundant regarding the findings. If the EPA moves forward with this plan, it will put the health of all Alaskans and Americans in jeopardy.
