The Endangerment Finding Explained — and What It Means for Climate Adaptation

About this episode

The episode discusses the repeal of the Clean Air Act's Endangerment Finding and its implications for climate adaptation and governance in the U.S.

In episode 248 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons is joined by Professor Mark Nevitt of Emory University School of Law to unpack the repeal of the Clean Air Act's Endangerment Finding and what it means for climate governance in the United States. Long considered the legal backbone of federal climate regulation, its rescission raises fundamental questions about agency authority, the role of the courts, and the durability of federal climate policy. Mark explains the legal theory behind the repeal, how it intersects with Supreme Court precedent, and what likely comes next in federal court. The conversation also explores the practical implications of regulatory instability — from increased climate litigation to the shifting balance between federal, state, and local responsibility. For listeners working in adaptation, public policy, infrastructure, law, or risk management, this episode offers a clear look at how legal shifts at the federal level can reshape the broader climate landscape — and why adaptation efforts must continue regardless of political volatility. Transcript for this episode here . Key Themes Covered in This Episode What the Endangerment Finding actually did under…

People in this episode

Host: Doug Parsons

Guest: Mark Nevitt

Topics covered

• climate governance
• legal implications
• federal climate policy
• regulatory instability
• climate litigation
• adaptation efforts

Keywords

• Endangerment Finding
• climate adaptation
• federal regulation
• legal theory
• climate litigation
• Supreme Court
• regulatory instability

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Emory University School of Law, Clean Air Act, Supreme Court, Massachusetts v. EPA

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