Joint Statement from Health Leaders on Revocation of Clean Power Plan

In response to the announcement by the Trump administration that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will revoke the Clean Power Plan, the American Lung Association; Allergy and Asthma Network; Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments; American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Physicians; American Public Health Association; American Thoracic Society; Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America; Center for Climate Change and Health; Children’s Environmental Health Network; Health Care Without Harm; National Association of County and City Healthy Officials; National Environmental Health Association; National Medical Association; Physicians for Social Responsibility; Public Health Institute; and Trust for America’s Health issued the following statement:

“Today’s proposal to revoke the Clean Power Plan is inconsistent with the EPA’s core mission of protecting public health and the environment. The Clean Power Plan, adopted in 2015, would have substantially reduced carbon pollution and other emissions from power plants, and prevented an estimated 90,000 pediatric asthma attacks and 3,600 premature deaths each year once fully implemented. Revoking this lifesaving plan denies Americans these health protections and removes crucial tools to reduce pollution that causes climate change.

“Climate change poses sweeping and devastating threats to human health. From elevated levels of dangerous ozone and particulate air pollution due to higher temperatures and worsening wildfires, to increased risks from vector-borne diseases such as Lyme disease due to the expanding seasons and geographic ranges of vectors like ticks and mosquitoes, the examples of climate-related health risks are far-reaching. What’s more, while every American’s health is threatened by climate change, certain groups of people — including children, seniors, low-income communities and those living with a chronic disease like asthma — are especially vulnerable.

“The health impacts of climate change demand immediate action. Failing to address this public health crisis will have lasting consequences. The longer our nation’s leaders postpone action to clean up carbon pollution and other greenhouse gases, the more severe the health costs will be.

“Our organizations are committed to fighting for action on climate change to safeguard the health of all Americans. We will participate in the rule-making process and submit comments conveying our strong opposition to this proposal. As leading public health, patient advocacy, nursing and medical organizations, we call on the EPA to heed the clear scientific evidence and protect public health by cleaning up major sources of carbon pollution from power plants and taking steps to avoid the worst health impacts of climate change.”