15 Health and Medical Groups Strongly Oppose EPA's Proposal to Weaken Carbon Pollution Limits on New Power Plants

Today the acting administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Andrew Wheeler, announced a proposal to dramatically weaken the Carbon Pollution Standards for New, Modified and Reconstructed Power Plants, which are protections against carbon pollution that have been in effect since 2015. In response, the American Lung Association, Allergy & Asthma Network, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Center for Climate Change and Health, Children’s Environmental Health Network, Health Care Without Harm, Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Medical Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Public Health Institute issued the following statement:

“Actively pursuing efforts to weaken carbon pollution limits on new power plants is moving in the wrong direction. There is a clear, scientific consensus that addressing climate change is a critically urgent health need.

“Power plant pollution and climate change endangers the health of every American, but certain groups are more at risk – including children, older adults, pregnant women, low-income communities and communities of color. This latest attempt from the Administration to give industry a license to pollute is irresponsible and illogical from both a health and economic perspective. We strongly oppose this proposal, which is a major threat to the health of all Americans, particularly those most vulnerable."