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Attorneys general

Arizona Attorney General Opposes EPA's Proposal to Repeal Endangerment Finding on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes testified before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in opposition to the agency's proposed rescission of its 2009 Endangerment Finding, which establishes that greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles contribute to air pollution that drives climate change and endangers public health and welfare. The proposal, issued August 1, 2025, would eliminate EPA's authority to regulate harmful air pollution and eliminate existing vehicle emission standards. Mayes highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change on Arizonans, including the largest wildfire currently burning in the United States and record-breaking heat exposure that resulted in over 1,000 heat-related deaths in the state in 2023.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Arizona Attorney General's office opposes the EPA's proposal to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding, citing scientific evidence that greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles drive climate change and endanger public health.
  • The proposal would eliminate EPA's authority to regulate air pollution from motor vehicles, exacerbating climate change and harming Arizonans.
  • Climate change has had a profound impact on Arizona, with heat-related deaths increasing tenfold over the last twenty years, and record-breaking heat exposure resulting in over 1,000 deaths in 2023.
  • The EPA's proposed repeal of the Endangerment Finding is "wrong on the science" and would be unlawful, as EPA has significant authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions that endanger public health and welfare.
  • The proposal would have significant consequences, including the drying of the Colorado River and the exacerbation of climate-related disasters in the southwestern United States.

Statistics:

  • Over 1,000 people died in Arizona in 2023 due to extreme heat exposure. [1]
  • Heat-related deaths in Arizona have increased tenfold over the last 20 years. [2]
  • The largest wildfire currently burning in the United States is located in Arizona. [3]
  • The Grand Canyon Lodge was destroyed in a wildfire that continues to rage in Arizona. [3]
  • Temperatures in Phoenix hit a record 118 degrees in August 2025. [3]
  • The Colorado River is experiencing drying trends that could have significant consequences for the southwestern United States. [3]

Sources:

  • [1] Slade Smith et al, Making Action Possible, Why has Arizona's Heat-Related Death Rate Increased Tenfold in Twenty Years?, (Aug 8, 2024), https://www.mapazdashboard.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/2024-08/Heat-Related%20Deaths%20White%20Paper.pdf
  • [2] Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Heat-Caused and Heat-Related Deaths in Arizona by Year (2011-2021), https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/extreme-weather/pubs/heat-related-mortality-year.pdf
  • [3] https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RHaocfiisHyXEVn8CwXMcsvPeuH1DAe-t6-COS6uQvw/edit?usp=drivesdk

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