Medical and scientific experts have issued a stark warning that climate change poses severe and growing threats to public health, directly contradicting claims made by the Trump administration. On February 12, 2026, the administration moved to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding, a formal determination that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels endanger public health and welfare. Physicians, epidemiologists, and environmental health scientists argue this decision ignores overwhelming evidence and jeopardizes American lives.
Mounting Evidence of Health Hazards
The evidence linking climate change to health problems has expanded significantly since 2009, becoming incontrovertible according to experts. Studies demonstrate that climate-related factors like extreme heat, air pollution, disease spread, and food insecurity are worsening globally, costing millions of lives annually. This scientific consensus aligns with the lived experiences of Americans who have suffered during heatwaves, breathed toxic wildfire smoke, or been injured in climate-fueled disasters.
Extreme Heat: A Deadly Threat
Greenhouse gases trap heat close to Earth's surface, causing rising global temperatures that expose more people to dangerous heat more frequently. While minor heat illnesses may be recoverable, extreme exposure without adequate hydration and cooling can be fatal. Outdoor workers, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting conditions like heart, lung, or kidney diseases face the highest risks.
Heat-related deaths have increased globally by 23% from the 1990s to the 2010s, with over half a million fatalities annually on average. In the United States, the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome killed hundreds. Climate scientists predict that advancing climate change will lead to more survival-threatening hot days in cities such as Miami, Houston, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Extreme Weather and Air Pollution
Warmer air holds more moisture, resulting in increased rainfall, storm intensity, and flooding across many U.S. communities. More powerful hurricanes are fueled by warmer ocean waters. Flooding brings health risks including drownings, injuries, water contamination, and mold exposure, while droughts disrupt food supplies and cause respiratory illnesses from dust.
Rising temperatures and aridity also dry out forests and grasslands, setting the stage for wildfires. Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that penetrates deep into lungs, along with hazardous compounds like lead, formaldehyde, and dioxins. These plumes can travel thousands of miles, triggering heart attacks and elevating lung cancer risks.
Additionally, warmer conditions favor ground-level ozone formation, a heart and lung irritant. Burning fossil fuels generates dangerous air pollutants that cause heart attacks, strokes, asthma flare-ups, and lung cancer.
Infectious Diseases on the Rise
Rising temperatures directly influence cold-blooded insects like mosquitoes, increasing biting rates and accelerating the development of disease agents they transmit. Mosquito-borne dengue fever has appeared in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Arizona, and California, while New York state recently recorded its first locally acquired case of chikungunya virus.
Climate change also exacerbates waterborne and foodborne illnesses. Warmer temperatures increase diarrhea and infections from bacteria like Vibrio cholerae, and heavy rainfall leads to sewage-contaminated stormwater overflows. Conversely, drought in the desert Southwest raises the risk of coccidioidomycosis, known as valley fever.
Broader Health Impacts and Vulnerable Groups
Climate change threatens health in numerous other ways. Longer pollen seasons increase allergen exposures, and lower crop yields reduce access to nutritious foods. Mental health suffers with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress following disasters, alongside increased rates of violent crime and suicide linked to high-temperature days.
Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with preexisting medical conditions are among the highest-risk groups. Lower-income individuals face greater risks due to higher rates of chronic disease, greater exposure to climate hazards, and fewer resources for protection, medical care, and disaster recovery.
Policy Implications and the Path Forward
The Trump administration's move to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding, which underpins many climate regulations, is part of a broader set of policy measures that include cutting support for renewable energy and subsidizing fossil fuel industries. The administration also moved to roll back emissions limits on vehicles, the leading source of U.S. carbon emissions and a major contributor to air pollutants like PM2.5 and ozone.
Experts argue that confronting climate change can promote good health. Cleaner vehicles and electricity mean cleaner air and reduced heart and lung disease, while more walking and cycling on safe infrastructure increase physical activity and lower chronic disease risks. To truly safeguard public health, the nation should acknowledge the facts behind the endangerment finding and accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to a healthy, clean energy future.
