United States: EPA Repeals Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for Vehicles Nationwide

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will no longer enforce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles and engines.

This change affects the automotive and transportation sectors across the United States.

The EPA has determined that the Clean Air Act does not authorize it to set these standards in response to global climate change concerns.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to rescind its 2009 findings on the contribution and endangerment of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and repeal all related emission standards for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles and engines across the United States.

This decision follows a re-evaluation of the Clean Air Act (CAA) section 202(a)(1), where the EPA concluded it lacks the authority to set GHG emission standards based on global climate change concerns.

The agency’s interpretation of terms such as “air pollution,” “cause,” “contribute,” and “reasonably be anticipated to endanger,” along with the major questions doctrine requiring clear congressional authorization for significant regulatory actions, supports this conclusion.

The EPA also determined that GHG emission standards do not significantly impact public health and welfare as previously thought. As a result, automotive manufacturers and the transportation sector will no longer need to comply with the previously established GHG emission standards, potentially altering production processes and compliance strategies.

The decision is based on a new statutory interpretation and aims to ensure that significant regulatory decisions have clear congressional backing.

Sources:

United States, Environmental Protection Agency, 91 FR 7686, Rescission of the Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding and Motor Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards Under the Clean Air Act, (February 25, 2026)