On September 17th, 2025, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) announced that the harmful impacts of greenhouse gases on human health and well-being are so evident that they can no longer be debated. While many members of the Trump administration claimed that rising temperatures would pose little danger, the Academies emphasized the severe consequences.
The 135-page review recently released by NASEM serves to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to overturn its 2009 decision that greenhouse gases are dangerous for people because they drive climate change. According to NASEM, the information found from 2009 “was accurate, has stood the test of time, and is now reinforced by even stronger evidence.” Long-term data has now confirmed the fact that human emissions are contributing to climate change and are already harming citizens today. Specifically, emissions have negatively impacted agricultural livestock and crops, lessened water availability, and caused many algal blooms in a multitude of areas.
This report emerges as the Trump administration has recently been trying to revoke climate regulations in order to expand the everyday production of fossil fuels. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin even described opposition to these rollbacks as “basically driving a dagger into the heart of the climate change religion.” The Academies’ report also criticizes a climate review by the Department of Energy in July, which “ignored basic standards” to prevent bias. Shortly after, the department disbanded the climate group that had made the review and is now facing a lawsuit accusing them of violating the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
However, NASEM’s review is also currently facing criticism from many. Some House Republicans called the review “a blatant partisan act to undermine” the Trump administration, demonstrating their suspicions regarding the validity and quickness of the report. Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academies, stated that the accusations were “ludicrous,” and said that the study was written by experts on the topic.
Despite the controversy, reports and data clearly show that greenhouse gases are causing negative effects in terms of public health and the environment. The Academies’ findings are a clear warning to us: human-caused greenhouse gases will continue to harm our environment and health, and the consequences will only worsen as time passes.
