Statement from AIA President Illya Azaroff, FAIA, on EPA’s Rescinding of the 2009 Endangerment Finding
AIA strongly opposes the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding and repeal associated greenhouse gas vehicle standards, a move that disregards science and undermines public safety.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) strongly opposes the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding and repeal associated greenhouse gas vehicle standards, a move that disregards science and undermines public safety. While the administration frames this as a “deregulatory victory,” it in fact threatens the economic stability and safety of the built environment.
For fifteen years, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector has operated with a clear, science-based mandate to protect public health, safety, and welfare by investing in high-performance buildings, advanced materials innovation, and emissions-reducing technologies. This is because architects understand the role the built environment plays in air quality, carbon emissions, and ecological health.
Buildings alone are responsible for nearly 42% of annual global carbon dioxide emissions, but architects cannot tackle this challenge alone. The performance of a building is inextricably linked to the transportation systems and energy grids that serve it. By dismantling these standards, the EPA is injecting volatility into the $1.6 trillion construction industry and opening the door to further deregulation impacting the built environment. This policy reversal will continue to weaken the United States’ position as a global climate leader, undermine trust in the federal government as a reliable partner , and jeopardize decades of progress in reducing carbon emissions.
Architects are committed to practical, science-driven solutions that strengthen public safety, economic resilience, and environmental performance. AIA calls on federal leaders to uphold policies grounded in credible science and long-term risk management. Architects will continue to lead through design, but we urge federal partners to join us in recognizing the critical interdependence of transportation, energy, and the places American live and work.
Illya Azaroff, FAIA
2026 AIA President
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