Strong state pollution standards help clean the air and protect the public from harmful car and truck pollution.
this week, Nurses Alliance for a Healthy Environment launched campaign They highlighted the endangerment study and the devastating impact of rolling back greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles, and called on state leaders to step up and take action. As one of the most trusted messengers in public health, the voices of nurses are critical to raising awareness about the dangers of rescinding endangerment findings.
Research shows that they are on the verge of extinctionwas issued in 2009 following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, which forced the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions based on overwhelming scientific evidence. Now that it has been scaled back, the consequences will be devastating. Respiratory illnesses, heat-related illnesses will worsen, health disparities will further widen, hospitals will be further strained, and healthcare costs will rise.
ANHE public health experts filmed testimony on social media highlighting the dangers of repealing endangerment to public health and calling on state leaders to take action.
“The EPA’s rescission of endangered findings is not only dangerous; it is an attack on science and the health of Americans.Nurses see the human toll of climate change every day: more asthma attacks, more emergency room visits, The facts are clear: climate change is bad for health. Denying established, reliable science linking greenhouse gases to harm to human health will only deepen inequities and push our health care system beyond its limits. Finding and eliminating clean vehicle standards is a boon to polluters and paves the way for increased fossil fuel emissions, toxic pollution, and increased human suffering, and Nurses Alliance for a Healthy Environment will continue to fight for cleaner air and a more sustainable future for everyone. ” – Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN, Managing director, Nurses Alliance for a Healthy Environment
In their testimonials, nurses said:
“Rescinding the endangerment findings ignores what health care workers and communities are already experiencing and will further contribute to increased hospitalizations, deaths, and environmental damage. Emissions controls are needed to protect the patients, communities, and places we love that make this country special.”
– Madison Spellman, RN
“When extreme weather events occur, they are like pebbles in a pond, spreading to communities not even in the storm. Evacuations strain local systems in surrounding areas. Power outages can be life-threatening for patients on ventilators and other life support equipment, and supply chain disruptions can harm people who need oxygen tanks and other critical medical equipment.” Tara Hiegel, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The federal government is pushing America to breaking point by reversing endangered findings. Now is the time for state leaders to bridge the gap.”
