SAN FRANCISCO – President Trump's rollback of the Clean Power Plan is not just a foolish failure of leadership on climate change, but another attack on public health that will trigger more asthma attacks among American children and cause more adults to die before their time, said EWG President Ken Cook.
"Scott Pruitt, who lacks a fifth-grader's understanding of what's causing global warming, says the Paris climate treaty was a 'bad deal.' But the bad deal is what America's getting from this administration," Cook said.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt said Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday to overhaul an Obama administration rule to cap carbon pollution from power plants that aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030. The EPA estimates that the rule, if left untouched, would “lead to climate and health benefits worth an estimated $55 billion to $93 billion in 2030, including avoiding 2,700 to 6,600 premature deaths and 140,000 to 150,000 asthma attacks in children.”
Here is Cook’s complete statement:
The rollback of the Clean Power Plan not only imperils the planet's future climate but will have life-and-death consequences for millions of Americans here and now. Gutting the Obama administration's initiative to curb air pollution means more children will suffer life-threatening asthma attacks and more adults will die before their time.
Instead of looking to improve Americans' lives, President Trump seems to measure success by how much damage he can inflict on policies that protect our health and environment. Shamefully, the brunt of the harm from this foolish retreat from science and reason will be borne by our children.
With each passing day, the president is securing his administration's position as the most reckless and dangerous presidency in history. He is building a legacy that seemingly spares no one, including children who deserve the right to breathe freely.
Scott Pruitt, who lacks a fifth-grader's understanding of what's causing global warming, says the Paris climate treaty was a “bad deal.” But the bad deal is what America's getting from this administration. This decision to vacate the U.S. commitment to combat climate change is the latest evidence that this administration doesn't have a clue about what's needed to keep Americans – and the world – safe and healthy. Tragically, everyone on Earth will pay the price.
