CTC Public Statements
Suite of Standards to Reduce Pollution from Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants (4/26/24)
The EPA’s final rules on power plant emissions and pollution is real progress in our government’s efforts to create a healthier environment and a better quality of life for all. Hundreds of millions of people in the US and billions of others around the world will benefit from these rules. The rules were a necessary step to reduce climate change and protect the ecosystems that provide life sustaining gifts we all need. These rules are unprecedented, and crucial for a sustainable planet and a thriving economy.
Debra Rowe, mentor to Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate and co-founder of the National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance said, “This rule will produce a stronger economy with greener career pathways. The science is clear and the EPA was responsible in its actions. The youth have been calling out those in power to take the necessary steps and the EPA rules are a successful example of what the young adults have been demanding of those in power.”
As a coalition of young adults from campuses and communities across the country, Change the Chamber is grateful that the EPA has taken the smart and necessary steps to protect the present generation and our shared future. We look forward to the next important step from the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from old gas power plants as well.
Solar for All and Earth Day (4/22/24)
“We applaud the EPA for its new Solar For All Program, which invests $7 billion in expanding solar power access to low-income and marginalized communities. This Program is an important victory for nearly one million households who can now benefit from an abundant yet previously inaccessible energy source, granting a minimum of 20% total electricity bill savings for included families. It also minimizes the number of pollutants in affected communities’ air by accelerating the transition away from fossil fuel-generated electricity to a cleaner source.
Transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources like solar is necessary to combat human-caused climate change. To be as effective as possible, it is imperative that solar technology be available not only for wealthy Americans, but for all—including the frontline communities who are hit hardest by the effects of climate change.
This program will not only benefit the climate by shifting focus towards renewable energy, but will financially benefit working Americans and promote resilience by facilitating access to electrical power during outages.”
Evey Mengelkoch, Elic Weitzel, and Samantha Grimes, National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
Light Duty Vehicle Standard (3/20/24)
“Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate applauds the Environmental Protection Agency for passing its new Light Duty Vehicle Standard. This standard will ensure cleaner cars and light-duty transportation which limit harmful emissions–lowering healthcare costs and preventing current and future health problems that include premature mortality, aggravated asthma, and heart and lung diseases. The standard will also reduce the impacts of climate change that magnify the impacts of pollutants from transportation, as the transportation sector creates 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Transitioning to lower-emission vehicles paves the way for the next generation to thrive. It promises a healthier environment, an economic boost with exciting career paths, and relief from burdensome fuel costs that strain family budgets. This standard will protect low-income, and BIPOC communities that disproportionately undergo negative health impacts from air pollution, and it will ensure current and future generations experience the benefits of cleaner air as they inherit our climate.”
Samantha Grimes and Aryana Wadhwani, National Climate Fellows, Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (3/18/24)
“We at Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate strongly oppose any attempts to repeal any parts of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The programs made possible by this fund will help create clean air for our communities, lessen the impacts of climate change, and create economic opportunities to continue decreasing greenhouse gases and air pollution. As someone with asthma and in a rural community, I experience worsened symptoms for days after periods of bad air quality due to pollutants that this program will help reduce as its implementation continues. Climate change will continue to compound the impacts of air pollution for me and others with pre-existing conditions. All Americans will experience new or worsened health impacts at an increased rate without the investments created by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, and other programs that help deploy clean energy and reduce our pollution burden. We young adults will inherit the actions, or inaction, of present legislators that shape the future of our climate and environment and our health. This program allows rural towns and cities nationwide to continue participating in opportunities to create green jobs, and invest in clean energy to adapt to and mitigate existing and future climate change.”
Evey Mengelkoch, National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
Soot Pollution Standard (2/7/24)
“Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate applauds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and President Biden for updating regulations on soot pollution that will put our health, climate, and future above the short-term profits of polluting industries. We are pleased by the EPA’s efforts to more closely align with the scientific community’s recommendations regarding safe levels of airborne particulate matter. Soot pollution creates a major public health burden by introducing harmful particulates into our lungs and bloodstream, increasing risks of premature death, heart and lung disease, cancer, and more. Around 63 million Americans currently experience harmful amounts of soot pollution daily, with communities of color bearing the greatest burden of this harmful pollutant.
With the stricter standards now in place, the EPA can better protect public health and improve the quality of life for Americans across the country. This standard will save thousands of lives every year and benefit the economy by $43 billion per year in public health savings, with direct taxpayer healthcare cost savings of nearly $20 billion in the next decade. These statistics illustrate the economic benefits this updated standard will have, despite arguments to the contrary by some trade associations, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who have fought this rule in the past. History has shown that industries will adapt and continue to flourish despite changes to regulations that prioritize Americans’ health and futures. While we celebrate the progress made, we also look forward to future updates to tighten the 24-hour limit for short-term soot exposure, which will protect millions more.”
Samantha Grimes and Elic Weitzel, National Climate Fellows, Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate