The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) joined 132 faith-based organizations from 33 states in urging the Trump Administration to reverse the rollbacks of crucial environmental safeguards.
Contact: Tim McHugh, Friends Committee on National Legislation, media@fcnl.org; 202-903-2515
In a letter delivered to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, and the president, the organizations said: “By undermining and weakening our country’s ability to protect our environment and address climate change, the United States government has taken a backseat in this time of ecological crisis … The result is direct harm to the environment and vulnerable communities—communities that we serve and of which we are members.”
The EPA’s own projections show that rolling back methane waste prevention rules, clean car standards, and the Clean Power Plan will increase greenhouse gas emissions and carbon pollution. Many states are still recovering from the devastation of Hurricanes Maria, Florence, and Michael, and such rollbacks will only worsen the impacts of climate change. Climate change multiplies the frequency and severity of storms.
The anticipated rollback of existing Mercury and Air Toxic Standards will expose vulnerable communities, pregnant women, children, and people of color to harmful toxins. These pollutants pose a significant threat to the public’s health, as they increase asthma, allergy, and the likelihood of heart attacks. The EPA’s own projections indicate that the combined impact of these rollbacks could cause nearly 14,000 premature deaths annually.
These rollbacks also endanger and pollute the water, air, and ecosystems that we ultimately rely on and are called to protect.
As the midterm elections approach, these communities of faith look to support leaders that will protect our common home and those who will be most harmed by its degradation. This should be a top priority for current and future political leaders.
“Our moral obligation to address climate change and protect vulnerable communities transcends partisanship. Protecting the earth and its inhabitants from ongoing manmade devastation should not be a political bargaining chip,” explained Diane Randall, Executive Secretary for FCNL. “The time is now for the president, Congress, and top-ranking government officials to prioritize stewardship and justice and reinstate environmental regulations that will set us on a sustainable path.”
Read the full letter here.
To learn more, please visit www.fcnl.org.
