April 12, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Jessica Mengistab
Program Manager, Climate & Clean Energy Advocacy
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
jessica@envirn.org
(732) 336-1606
With Updated Standards, EPA Accelerates Transition to Cleaner Cars & Healthier Air
Washington, D.C.- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollutants like particulate matter and nitrous oxide from light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles. The transportation sector has become the leading source of climate warming and health harming pollution in the United States. EPA’s new rule for cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks, once finalized, could cut carbon emissions from tailpipes by more than 60% by 2032- a necessary step for addressing the climate crisis.
In response to the recently announced proposed rules Executive Director of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN issued the following statement:
“The issue of pollution from our nation’s transportation sector has been a long standing threat to public health as well as the environment. Today’s proposed rules on emissions from cars and trucks are consistent with the long history of EPA regulating harmful greenhouse gasses under the Clean Air Act. The impacts of tailpipe pollution on climate change and health have only become clearer and more dire and nurses applaud EPA’s efforts to continue to limit emissions. In addition to addressing the climate crisis, cleaning up transportation pollution for communities and populations disproportionately exposed to and harmed by tailpipe emissions is a critical step in achieving EPA’s stated goal of advancing health equity and environmental justice.
“These standards in conjunction with granting Clean Air Act waivers to states to set their own stronger standards will greatly improve the health of Americans across the country. Members of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments will be participating in EPA’s public comment period along with May’s scheduled hearings on light and heavy duty vehicles to stress the need for finalizing the strongest clean cars standards as soon as possible.”
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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to promote healthy people and healthy environments by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating evidence-based practice, and influencing policy.
