For Immediate Release
August 3rd, 2015
WE ACT for Environmental Justice, 212-961-1000 ext. 320
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Obama Administration in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency released the final version of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), a sweeping action geared towards addressing climate change in the United States.
In response, WE ACT Federal Policy Director, Jalonne White-Newsome released the following statement:
“We applaud President Obama and the EPA for putting forth this ambitious plan to address climate change. For the past year, EJ leaders across this country have been working hard to raise and voice our concerns about how equity must be a central theme in the final rule. We believe that the both the White House and the EPA have listened, and are taking a step in the right direction to get us cleaner air, cleaner energy and cleaner communities. This is a historic day and it is our hope that all states get on board.
There is no doubt and no lack of studies that demonstrate that people with lower incomes face greater health risks from air pollution because they live closer to sources of pollution and they are more likely to have diseases that put them at a higher risk. In fact, 1 in 6 African American kids and 1 in 9 Latino kids suffer from asthma.
We all know that any good doctor must conduct a diagnosis before developing a treatment plan. For our communities, the diagnosis is the environmental justice analysis and that analysis should INFORM the treatment plan.
As we pivot some of our focus to the states planning process, environmental justice advocates across this country will continue to make our voices heard and shape the treatment plan in the states over the next couple of years. The Clean Power Plan is just what the doctor ordered. Let’s make sure that we get the emissions reductions, do the analysis and engage the communities most impacted by pollution. It’s now on the states to make sure equity and justice remain an important part of the treatment plan.”