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Interfaith Energy & Mild community requires EPA to strengthen well being protections
WASHINGTON — At this time the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) proposed updating soot air pollution requirements. The replace is a vital step in the fitting route however needs to be additional strengthened to guard our air, advance environmental justice, and defend public well being.
Soot is a harmful and lethal pollutant that’s produced by energy crops, tailpipes on vehicles and vans, and different industrial sources, and threatens public well being and the atmosphere — posing explicit dangers for youngsters, seniors and other people with continual sickness. In line with the American Lung Affiliation, 63 million People expertise unhealthy spikes in each day soot, also called particle air pollution, and greater than 20 million People expertise harmful ranges of soot air pollution on a year-round foundation.
Soot is a extremely inequitably unfold pollutant, with its burdens falling particularly on low-wealth communities and communities of coloration. These communities face elevated well being burdens from air pollution in comparison with the general inhabitants.
As folks of religion and conscience, our values name us to be good stewards of our Sacred Earth and to make sure that everyone seems to be cared for. The EPA has an ethical alternative to avoid wasting practically 200,000 lives annually by strengthening its remaining normal to mirror the well being science and the suggestions of EPA’s impartial science advisors.
The Interfaith Energy & Mild community urges the EPA to set the strongest soot air pollution limits potential within the remaining normal to guard the well being of our communities and our neighbors, and to advance environmental justice.
In response, Interfaith Energy & Mild’s President and associates launched this assertion:
Rev. Susan Hendershot, President of Interfaith Energy & Mild:
“EPA’s actions as we speak are a step ahead in serving to defend our communities from lethal air air pollution however are inadequate to totally tackle the issue. Now we have an ethical alternative proper now to advance environmental justice, make sure that our neighbors have clear air to breathe, and to look after these most weak to those toxins. Nobody needs to be pressured to dwell in a group the place it’s hazardous to easily breathe the air. The EPA has did not set the strongest science-based soot air pollution requirements that will defend communities.”
Melanie Beikman, Government Director of Arizona Interfaith Energy & Mild:
“Practically 70 % of Arizona residents dwell in counties with failing grades for particle air pollution and Phoenix was ranked the eighth worst metropolis for year-round particle air pollution and eleventh worst for 24-hour particle air pollution. Soot air pollution is lethal and the present requirements are outdated. We want EPA to set tighter requirements for soot air pollution to guard our communities.”
Codi Norred, Government Director of Georgia Interfaith Energy & Mild:
“Over 730,000 adults and 240,000 youngsters in Georgia endure from bronchial asthma. Georgians of religion and conscience need and wish the EPA to set sturdy protections from soot air pollution.”
Katie Ruth, Government Director of Pennsylvania Interfaith Energy & Mild:
“Our religion traditions declare folks and the planet to be sacred. Pennsylvania has among the worst air high quality within the nation, with Pittsburgh rating because the 14th worst metropolis within the nation for year-round particle air pollution, and Philadelphia coming in shortly behind at 18th. Pennsylvanians want the EPA to implement the strongest soot air pollution limits potential to guard our well being and advance environmental justice. This isn’t simply sensible coverage, it’s a ethical crucial.”
Rev. Brian Sauder, Government Director of Religion in Place (WI, IL, IN affiliate):
“Over 460,000 adults and 75,000 youngsters in Wisconsin endure from bronchial asthma and wish safety from soot air pollution. Individuals of religion and conscience need and wish the EPA to set sturdy options for air pollution.”
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Interfaith Energy & Mild is a nationwide nonprofit with over 40 state associates, reaching 22,000+ congregations in all 50 states. IPL conjures up and mobilizes folks of religion and conscience to take daring and simply motion on local weather change.
Contact:
Tiffany Hartung
Interfaith Energy & Mild
248 933 2451
[email protected]
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this article are these of the authors and don’t essentially mirror the official coverage or place of Faith Information Service or Faith Information Basis.
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