On July 23, 2024, the Climate Action Campaign held the Celebrating Solutions for Pollution with EPA Administrator Michael Regan event at the Hotel Washington. The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments has been a partner of the Solutions for Pollution Campaign since the launch. The “Solutions for Pollution” campaign calls on the Biden administration to advance approximately 20 protections across federal agencies that could cut climate pollution in half by 2030, advance vital public health and environmental justice goals, accelerate the transition to clean energy, and create new economic opportunity. Moderated by CNN Climate Reporter Ella Nilsen, the event served not only as a reflection of all the achievements made by the EPA over the course of the current administration, but also a commitment for the agency’s future.
Today, we see a strong EPA; one that, under the leadership of Administrator Regan, is fierce, strong, and committed to fulfilling the intended goals of the agency with full scientific transparency. The challenge of rebuilding the EPA following the previous administration was one which served as somewhat of a setback at first, but one which allowed the agency to be rebuilt stronger and more resilient than ever before. Accomplishments such as taking over 300 actions to attack climate change in the last 4 years, taking massive initiatives to advance environmental justice by putting more emphasis on the concept than ever, and tackling long-lasting issues such as PFAS contamination and lead water pipes display just how persistent and faithful the agency’s goals the current EPA is.
The central message conveyed by Administrator Regan at the event, however, was showing his gratitude to individual organizations and citizens who have contributed more to the ability of the EPA to accomplish what it has than most realize. Regan himself said that the EPA’s goals are far too wide in scope to be fulfilled by one entity. Thus, the contributions of organizations also committed to ensuring clean air, clean water, and a healthy future for all have built the groundwork for a strong EPA- a fact which Regan believes has truly separated the EPA under the current administration from the rest, and a fact which should motivate organizations to keep fighting to protect human health and the environment.
