New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general and several counties and cities in submitting a comment letter opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed withdrawal of its 2009 Endangerment Finding. This finding, established after a Supreme Court decision in 2007, determined that greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles contribute to air pollution that harms public health and welfare.
The EPA’s proposal to rescind the Endangerment Finding was announced by the Trump Administration last month. The administration claims that the EPA lacks authority to regulate air pollution contributing to climate change, which would also eliminate existing vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards.
Attorney General Platkin stated, “For over a decade, the EPA has acknowledged that greenhouse gases are irreparably warming our climate and harm our communities. However, the Trump Administration is not only attempting to eliminate the EPA’s landmark endangerment finding but eliminate vehicle emissions standards that have reduced pollution and greenhouse gases in states like New Jersey. Our coalition is making formal our vehement opposition to this reckless move that serves no one except polluters and corporate executives seeking to profit at the expense of our residents’ health. We will fight this dangerous action and protect our communities.”
The coalition argues in its 225-page letter that rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding would violate established law, Supreme Court precedent, and scientific consensus. They emphasize risks to Americans, especially those in communities disproportionately affected by environmental harms.
Recent scientific assessments reinforce these concerns. According to a statement from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS), “EPA’s 2009 finding that the human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases threaten human health and welfare was accurate, has stood the test of time, and is now reinforced by even stronger evidence.” The coalition contends that EPA’s new proposal relies on an incomplete report from the Department of Energy’s Climate Working Group rather than robust science.
Climate change impacts have been significant for New Jersey. Events such as Superstorm Sandy in 2012 resulted in extensive property damage—346,000 homes were damaged or destroyed—and widespread power outages affecting two million people. The storm caused approximately $30 billion in economic losses and led to 38 deaths in New Jersey alone. Hurricane Ida brought further devastation in 2021. With its long Atlantic coastline, New Jersey faces ongoing threats from sea level rise and flooding.
The coalition also submitted a second letter addressing EPA's plan to repeal all federal greenhouse gas emissions standards for motor vehicles. They argue this could disrupt regulatory frameworks developed over fifteen years, with negative consequences for residents, industries, natural resources, and public investments across states and local governments.
According to EPA projections cited by the coalition, current motor vehicle greenhouse gas standards are expected to prevent more than eight billion metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions over thirty years while avoiding $1.82 trillion in climate-related damages.
The group maintains that strong regulations encourage automakers’ innovation and support domestic manufacturing jobs while saving drivers money on fuel and maintenance costs.
In addition to challenging EPA proposals directly related to vehicle emission standards and endangerment findings, AG Platkin joined other attorneys general contesting both procedural issues with reports produced by DOE’s Climate Working Group as well as legal compliance under federal advisory rules.
Platkin also participated in filing an amicus brief supporting plaintiffs seeking judicial review of DOE's Climate Working Group activities.
Attorney General Platkin testified before EPA on August 19 against rescinding both the Endangerment Finding and motor vehicle emission standards.
Joining AG Platkin were attorneys general from California (co-lead), Connecticut (co-lead), Massachusetts (co-lead), New York (co-lead), Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico,
North Carolina,
Oregon,
Rhode Island,
Vermont,
Washington,
Wisconsin; as well as representatives from Chicago,
New York City,
Oakland,
Denver,
Martin Luther King Jr., California County,
and Santa Clara County.
