Washington dismantles the legal foundation of American climate regulation

On February 12, 2026, the EPA finalized the rescission of the 2009 endangerment finding, the legal cornerstone of sixteen years of federal greenhouse gas regulation. Presented as the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history, this decision eliminates emission standards for all vehicles and engines from 2012 onwards, marking a pivotal shift in American climate policy with profound geopolitical consequences.