ASLA Objects to EPA’s Repeal of Science-Based Standards

Statement from ASLA President Brad McCauley, FALSA, PLA, on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding:

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) strongly objects to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding. This action disregards decades of peer-reviewed climate science and removes the essential legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gas pollution. As licensed design professionals, landscape architects are legally and ethically bound to protect public health, safety, and welfare; this mandate requires federal policy to be grounded in rigorous, evidence-based data.

Rolling back this framework does not eliminate climate risk; it shifts the financial and physical burden onto communities, project owners, and design professionals. Whether in public agencies, private firms, or multidisciplinary teams, our members must now manage escalating heat, flooding, and wildfire risks without a stable federal regulatory baseline.

In response to these shifting federal standards, ASLA remains steadfast in our commitment to the Landscape Architecture 2040: Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan. This ongoing work provides our members with the technical toolkits, research, and standards necessary to lead the transition toward zero emissions and nature-based resilience. While federal policy may fluctuate, Landscape Architecture 2040 serves as our profession’s permanent roadmap for protecting community investments and public safety.

ASLA urges the EPA to reinstate science-based standards that recognize the clear danger greenhouse gas emissions pose to human and environmental health. We will continue to accelerate our Landscape Architecture 2040 initiatives to ensure that every landscape architect, from firm principals to the next generation of leaders, has the resources to advance resilient design in every community.

Bradley McCauley, FASLA, PLA
2025-2026 ASLA President