Sierra Club Applauds New Protections from Climate Pollution

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first-ever national protections against dangerous carbon pollution from existing power plants. Carbon pollution is the leading cause of climate disruption and fuels superstorms, floods, wildfires, and extreme heat. It also worsens the effects of other air pollution that sickens our children and costs billions of dollars each year in emergency room visits, lost productivity and premature death.

This new standard, which is the centerpiece of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, will help clean up the industry that creates the lion's share of carbon pollution in our country. The new protections will also help reduce other life-threatening air pollution including mercury, soot, and smog.

In response, Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, issued the following statement:

"Today, the president made good on his promise to American families that his administration would tackle the climate crisis, and clean up and modernize the way we power our country.

"Climate disruption is the greatest challenge facing our generation. Until now, power plants have been allowed to dump unlimited amounts of carbon pollution into our air, driving dangerous climate disruption, and fueling severe drought, wildfires, heat waves and superstorms. Extreme weather, and the costs to Americans' health and wallets, will only worsen unless we act.

"The Sierra Club and our 2.4 million members and supporters stand with President Obama and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. In the month ahead, we will work to ensure a strong and just standard for cutting carbon pollution. In doing so, we will protect the health of our children, boost our clean energy economy, and help American communities thrive."