February 24, 2026
Climate change is a public health emergency. Addressing it is not a political issue; it is a medical imperative. As such, we are deeply disappointed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to revoke the Endangerment Finding. This action undermines nearly two decades of science-based policy designed to protect public health from the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions.
The science is clear: greenhouse gases contribute to climate change, which poses significant and well-documented threats to human health. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated with unequivocal certainty that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are driving climate change, with widespread impacts on health, food systems, and infrastructure. Organizations such as The Lancet and the World Health Organization have identified climate change as the single greatest threat to global health.
In our medical training, we are learning daily about the health impacts we are already witnessing due to environmental change. From respiratory illnesses from wildfire smoke and air pollution, heat-related morbidity and mortality, expanded ranges of vector-borne diseases, mental health impacts from climate-related disasters, and disruptions to health care infrastructure from extreme weather events, the impacts are a reality for many of our patients.
In September 2024, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reaffirmed that the Endangerment Finding stood the test of time and was reinforced by even stronger evidence than when it was announced in 2009, underscoring the overwhelming scientific consensus on the health harms of greenhouse gas emissions. As students of evidence-based practice, we cannot remain silent when established science is dismissed in favor of political expediency and financial gain.
This revocation removes the federal government’s primary legal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other major sources. The health consequences of this decision will be profound. Previous EPA analyses showed that vehicle emissions standards alone would prevent billions of dollars in healthcare costs from heart attacks, lung disease, and asthma attacks. Clean air standards save lives. This is fundamental public health science.
We write to affirm that the next generation of healthcare providers is dedicated to advocating for policies based on scientific evidence that promote the health of all individuals. In this critical moment, we call on our elected officials, fellow healthcare professionals, and the broader community to:
- Recognize climate change as the public health threat that it is
- Support evidence-based environmental regulations that protect air quality and public health
- Invest in climate resilience for our healthcare systems
- Continue to advance state and local climate action where federal leadership has failed
- Vote for local and state representatives in the upcoming elections who support climate health forward policies and regulations
The oath we will take as physicians compels us to “first, do no harm.” We cannot fulfill that promise to our future patients if we remain silent while foundational environmental health protections are dismantled. We, as MS4SF, stand committed to protecting the health of current and future generations.
Medical Students for a Sustainable Future 