APHA Supports President Obama's Climate Protection Plan

July 15, 2013- The American Public Health Association applauded President Obama for redoubling his commitment to protect against health threats caused by climate change. Obama’s Climate Action Plan, released a few weeks ago, sets the first-ever limits on carbon pollution from power plants, the nation’s single largest source of carbon pollution.

“Implementing new power plant rules could prevent countless premature deaths, heart attacks and cases of chronic bronchitis, reduce co-pollutants and slow hospital utilization rates that contribute to rising health care costs,” said Georges Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “Just as the Environmental Protection Agency safeguards our health from mercury, arsenic and lead, EPA can protect our health from dangerous carbon pollution.”

Benjamin pointed out that climate change can impact public health by exposing Americans to extreme conditions and weather that may result in illness due to respiratory ailments, heat-related stress, and insect-borne diseases. Climate change also threatens water and food supplies, with low-income, elderly and minority groups at greatest risk.

“Because implementing these critically needed standards could mean the difference between a long, healthy life or debilitating, expensive chronic illness ... it is important that EPA be granted full authority to move forward with its important work to safeguard public health, as it is designated to do under the Clean Air Act."

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