Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has issued a statement criticizing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding. The original finding determined that greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles contribute to air pollution, which is a primary cause of climate change and poses risks to public health.
“Rescinding this finding will undo progress we have made to address climate change by eliminating existing EPA greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles and undermining the EPA’s mandate to regulate harmful air pollution that causes climate change,” Raoul said. “I will continue to push back and defend science-backed emission standards that protect the environment and our health.”
Raoul explained that the EPA’s decision is based on what he called a flawed assertion—contrary to Supreme Court precedent—that it lacks legal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. He also stated that this move ignores established scientific evidence linking greenhouse gases to climate change, which endangers public health and welfare. According to Raoul, the rule removes both current and future federal vehicle emission standards, violating legal obligations meant to protect people from environmental harm.
The 2009 Endangerment Finding followed the 2007 Supreme Court case Massachusetts v. EPA, in which Illinois and partner states secured a ruling confirming the EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases threatening public health. After an extensive scientific review, the EPA concluded that emissions from motor vehicles were harmful and set limits accordingly.
In September 2025, Raoul joined a coalition submitting two comment letters urging the EPA not to proceed with rescinding the finding. The letters argued that such action would violate established law, disregard Supreme Court precedent and scientific consensus, put millions of Americans at risk—especially those in communities facing disproportionate environmental harms—and create regulatory uncertainty with potentially severe consequences for residents, industries, natural resources and public investments. The comments also criticized reliance on unscientific sources denying climate change impacts.
The Illinois Attorney General’s office works across multiple areas including advocacy for vulnerable groups such as workers, immigrants and seniors; handling thousands of consumer complaints annually; promoting safer communities; supporting crime victims in partnership with law enforcement; providing services like complaint filing for fraud or civil rights issues; and emphasizing environmental conservation efforts statewide according to its official website.
