24 Will the Coast Take On Climate Leadership (Again)? With Molly Peterson

Pacific Time: The "What if...?" of West Coast Independence

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25d ago 45:19

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The EPA just gutted the backbone of federal climate regulation. Could the West Coast step in?

In this episode of Pacific Time, veteran climate reporter Molly Peterson joins Greg to unpack the devastating implications of the EPA’s reversal of its greenhouse gas endangerment finding—the legal trigger that forces federal climate action. Without it, Washington no longer has to regulate greenhouse gases, even as wildfire smoke, ozone, and deadly heatwaves plague the West.

Molly and Greg explore what this means for California, Oregon, and Washington: Could these states lead a new era of climate policy absent federal involvement? Might they even seize legal and regulatory authority from the feds—and what would that spark?

Episode Highlights:

The implications of the EPA rescinding the greenhouse gas endangerment finding
Why wildfire smoke isn’t properly counted under current law
Why the Clean Air Act wasn’t built for climate change
Could California sue and/or simply take charge?

Guest Bio:
Molly Peterson is an award-winning environmental reporter whose work has appeared on NPR, The Guardian, LAist, and local outlets across the West. She covers air quality, water systems, and climate adaptation with a sharp eye for science, law, and public accountability. Her 2023 investigation into wildfire smoke loopholes helped reframe how we think about pollution and policy.

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