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Climate change

Trump EPA Hearing: Experts Oppose Repeal of Carbon Pollution Standards

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) expert, Richard Yates, joined over 100 Americans in testifying against the Trump administration's proposal to eliminate the Carbon Pollution Standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants. The proposed change would increase the risk of climate change-related dangers, including extreme heat waves, droughts, and rising sea levels. The Trump EPA's own analysis suggests that the repeal will result in thousands of premature deaths and tens of billions of dollars in healthcare costs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration's proposal to repeal the Carbon Pollution Standards for power plants would put people across the country at increased risk from climate change-related dangers.
  • Richard Yates, an EDF expert, testified that the standards protect public health and welfare from power plant air pollution, as required by the Clean Air Act.
  • The proposed repeal would remove nationwide emission limits on greenhouse gases from fossil plants, exposing Americans to more climate disruption and pollution-driven death and disease.
  • The Trump EPA's analysis finds that the proposal will cause thousands of premature deaths.
  • The proposal will cost the nation tens of billions of dollars in healthcare costs, as calculated in the Regulatory Impact Analysis.
  • The EDF expert emphasized that the Clean Air Act is being disobeyed by the Trump EPA's proposal to repeal the standards.
  • The public hearing on the proposal was the only one held by the Trump EPA, sparking concerns about transparency and accountability.
  • The Carbon Pollution Standards for power plants were established to protect public health and welfare from air pollution.

Statistics:

  • Thousands of premature deaths are expected due to the proposed repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards.
  • Tens of billions of dollars in healthcare costs are estimated to be incurred by the nation due to the proposed repeal.
  • The Regulatory Impact Analysis by the Trump EPA's own analysis estimates the health impacts of the proposal.

Sources:

  • Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) - The release by the Environmental Defense Fund announcing an expert's testimony at the Trump EPA hearing.
  • Regulatory Impact Analysis - A document prepared by the Trump EPA, which estimates the health impacts of the proposed repeal.

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