Atlanta (June 2, 2014)— Mothers & Others for Clean Air, a program of the American Lung Association of the Southeast, says the new first-ever federal limits on carbon pollution from power plants , announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA), is a serious commitment to addressing one of the most serious public health challenges of our day.
Power plants remain the largest single source of carbon pollution emissions that are changing our climate in ways that currently threaten the health of millions of Americans.
Carbon emissions from power plants set the stage for warmer temperatures which can lead to ozone formation, a well-known trigger for asthma attacks and repository diseases. The recent National Climate Assessment asserts that ground-level ozone is projected to increase in the 19 largest urban areas of the Southeast, leading to an increase in deaths, a rise in hospital admissions due to respiratory illnesses and emergency room visits for asthma.
“We have an obligation to protect our children and future generations from the health impacts of climate change,” said Anne Mellinger-Birdsong, epidemiologist and retired pediatrician. “The health benefits from EPA’s proposed limits on carbon pollution are significant.”
EPA’s proposed carbon pollution standards would reduce the burden of air pollution in America, prevent up to 4,000 premature deaths and 100,000 asthma attacks in the first year they are in place, and prevent up to 6,600 premature deaths and 150,000 asthma attacks in 2030.
“We know that cleaning up carbon pollution can also cut emissions of other harmful pollutants from power plants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury, and reduce ozone and particulate matter pollution, providing an immediate, positive benefit for public health,” said Susan Berryman Rodriguez, project director of Mothers & Others for Clean Air.
“We urge the EPA to set a final standard within a year as we work with our health partners in Southeast to support the strongest limits on carbon pollution. Anything less shortchanges our children and our health.”
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To access an interactive map showing state and power plant-specific information about EPA’s proposed carbon pollution rule, click here.
Stop unchecked carbon pollution. Show big polluters that you support healthy lungs. Please sign-up to speak at EPA’s public hearing on the new Clean Power Plan scheduled for July 29 in Atlanta, at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center Main Tower Bridge Conference Area, Conference Room B, 61 Forsyth Street, SW. Please contact Ms. Pamela Garrett at 919-541-7966 or at garrett.pamela@epa.gov or click here to register to speak at one of the hearings. The last day to pre-register in advance to speak at the hearings will be Friday, July 25, 2014.
About Mothers & Others for Clean Air
Mothers & Others for Clean Air is a partnership of leading public health, environmental and child advocacy organization dedicated to improving air quality. A program of the American Lung Association of the Southeast, Mothers & Others for Clean Air educates the public about the negative health effects from air pollution and engages people by promoting individual actions and policy change to improve air quality. To learn more about M&O and to view a complete list of its partner organizations, go to www.mocleanair.org.
