CTC Public Statements
CTC Statement on Proposed EPA NOx Standards (11/26/24)
Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate applauds the proposed standards by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to curb nitrous oxide emissions from gas-fired power plants. The proposed standards aim to reduce both nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)–collectively referred to as nitrous oxides–from these industrial sources. This will in turn greatly reduce dangerous smog and soot pollution formed as a by-product of these industrial processes. Smog and soot put Americans at risk of “respiratory disorders, cardiovascular dysfunction, neurological disorders, and cancer.” By tackling nitrous oxide emissions, the proposed standards will mitigate the health risks communities exposed to smog and soot have experienced for decades. The proposed standards will also mitigate environmental hazards such as acid rain (formed by nitrous oxides reacting with sulfur dioxide) that impact humans, plants, animals and waterways. Overall, American households will experience less missed days of work and school, medical costs and doctor’s appointments. Currently, NOx and other air pollutants contribute to the “94 percent of the non-climate-change costs of air pollution [that] are health-related” that impact everyday Americans.
The proposed nitrous oxide emissions standards provide an excellent step forward, serving as the first federal plan addressing stationary gas-fired nitrous oxide emissions since 2006. These standards will save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and provide an impressive $45 million in net benefits for the US economy annually. However, more can be done to provide the strongest possible protections against dangerous soot and smog pollution, a cause that the youth climate voice is committed to fighting for. The first critical step in protecting the next generation is to finalize and implement the proposed standards. Change the Chamber looks forward to protecting public health by pushing for strengthened solutions for nitrous oxide pollution during the public comment period and beyond.
Camille Rohde, National Climate Fellow, Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
CTC Statement On Election 2024 (11/7/24)
“The outcome of this election is one we will feel, not only for the next 4 years, but for all of our lives. Right now is a crucial time for action to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. The clean energy transition is already happening, here in the United States of America and abroad. Communities are benefitting from sustainable action with more jobs, thriving economies, and healthier environments. We will do everything in our power to defend, protect, and increase investments for an inclusive sustainable future moving forward so that we as the youth will create a higher quality of life for all generations.”
Sarah Hill, National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
SCOTUS Denies Stay on Carbon Power Plant Rule (10/16/24)
Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate supports the Supreme Court's recent decision, released today, to allow the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce limits on carbon emissions from power plants. The rule requires power plants to meet emissions standards equivalent to what would be achieved with “90% carbon capture.” This rule has the potential to reduce emissions by 1.4 billion metric tons, the approximate equivalent of 328 million cars, providing nearly $370 billion in benefits for climate and public health. The plan could even reduce premature deaths, asthma cases, and emergency room trips. Power plants make up 25 percent of the U.S.’s greenhouse gas emissions, making this rule one of the most significant steps the Biden administration has taken to combat the effects of climate change. Power plants are expected to comply with the rule within six to eight years.
States and corporations initially requested a stay on the rule while they challenged it in the federal appeals court. The case will go back to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Change the Chamber is grateful that the Supreme Court has made the right decision in allowing the EPA to protect our environment, and hopes that federal courts will continue to uphold this rule. As communities across the nation face the consequences of climate change, such as extreme heat and deadly hurricanes, this rule is a vital part of the solution.
Gabby Meyers, National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
SCOTUS Denies Requests to Stay Section 111 Methane Rule (10/4/24)
“Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate supports the Supreme Court’s recent decision, released today, to deny a stay of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Section 111 Methane Rule. This rule will help limit harmful methane emissions and other dangerous pollutants from the oil and gas sector, which is responsible for damaging our public health and increasing the dangerous impacts of climate change. Until this ruling, oil and gas companies have been able to vent and flare largely unlimited amounts of methane and other air pollutants, despite methane causing “approximately one-third of current warming resulting from human activities,” as it is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. The methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the oil and gas sector are also responsible for increased rates of cancer, birth defects, and asthma, among other health risks for those exposed to them.
This request for a stay was put forth by big polluters and their allies in an attempt to delay implementing necessary safeguards to maintain their quarterly profits at the expense of our climate, environmental justice communities, their workers, and others living and working nearby extraction sites. Even though the Supreme Court acted to protect our health and climate today, we are not finished with our work to build a sustainable society. The polluters responsible for requesting this stay will likely keep pushing lower courts to block this and other common-sense rules to limit disastrous pollution so they can keep lining their pockets. Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate represents the young adults who make up an ever-increasing share of consumers, investors, and workers of companies that depend on our energy system, and we will continue to push for changes that benefit all members of society while advocating for polluters to pay their fair share.”
Evey Mengelkoch, Tony Passino, Erin F. McClain, Sarah Hill, Dylanger McKissen, National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
Suite of Standards to Reduce Pollution from Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants (4/26/24)
The EPA’s final rules on power plant emissions and pollution is real progress in our government’s efforts to create a healthier environment and a better quality of life for all. Hundreds of millions of people in the US and billions of others around the world will benefit from these rules. The rules were a necessary step to reduce climate change and protect the ecosystems that provide life sustaining gifts we all need. These rules are unprecedented, and crucial for a sustainable planet and a thriving economy.
Debra Rowe, mentor to Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate and co-founder of the National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance said, “This rule will produce a stronger economy with greener career pathways. The science is clear and the EPA was responsible in its actions. The youth have been calling out those in power to take the necessary steps and the EPA rules are a successful example of what the young adults have been demanding of those in power.”
As a coalition of young adults from campuses and communities across the country, Change the Chamber is grateful that the EPA has taken the smart and necessary steps to protect the present generation and our shared future. We look forward to the next important step from the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from old gas power plants as well.
Solar for All and Earth Day (4/22/24)
“We applaud the EPA for its new Solar For All Program, which invests $7 billion in expanding solar power access to low-income and marginalized communities. This Program is an important victory for nearly one million households who can now benefit from an abundant yet previously inaccessible energy source, granting a minimum of 20% total electricity bill savings for included families. It also minimizes the number of pollutants in affected communities’ air by accelerating the transition away from fossil fuel-generated electricity to a cleaner source.
Transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources like solar is necessary to combat human-caused climate change. To be as effective as possible, it is imperative that solar technology be available not only for wealthy Americans, but for all—including the frontline communities who are hit hardest by the effects of climate change.
This program will not only benefit the climate by shifting focus towards renewable energy, but will financially benefit working Americans and promote resilience by facilitating access to electrical power during outages.”
Evey Mengelkoch, Elic Weitzel, and Samantha Grimes, National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
Light Duty Vehicle Standard (3/20/24)
“Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate applauds the Environmental Protection Agency for passing its new Light Duty Vehicle Standard. This standard will ensure cleaner cars and light-duty transportation which limit harmful emissions–lowering healthcare costs and preventing current and future health problems that include premature mortality, aggravated asthma, and heart and lung diseases. The standard will also reduce the impacts of climate change that magnify the impacts of pollutants from transportation, as the transportation sector creates 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Transitioning to lower-emission vehicles paves the way for the next generation to thrive. It promises a healthier environment, an economic boost with exciting career paths, and relief from burdensome fuel costs that strain family budgets. This standard will protect low-income, and BIPOC communities that disproportionately undergo negative health impacts from air pollution, and it will ensure current and future generations experience the benefits of cleaner air as they inherit our climate.”
Samantha Grimes and Aryana Wadhwani, National Climate Fellows, Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (3/18/24)
“We at Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate strongly oppose any attempts to repeal any parts of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The programs made possible by this fund will help create clean air for our communities, lessen the impacts of climate change, and create economic opportunities to continue decreasing greenhouse gases and air pollution. As someone with asthma and in a rural community, I experience worsened symptoms for days after periods of bad air quality due to pollutants that this program will help reduce as its implementation continues. Climate change will continue to compound the impacts of air pollution for me and others with pre-existing conditions. All Americans will experience new or worsened health impacts at an increased rate without the investments created by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, and other programs that help deploy clean energy and reduce our pollution burden. We young adults will inherit the actions, or inaction, of present legislators that shape the future of our climate and environment and our health. This program allows rural towns and cities nationwide to continue participating in opportunities to create green jobs, and invest in clean energy to adapt to and mitigate existing and future climate change.”
Evey Mengelkoch, National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate
Soot Pollution Standard (2/7/24)
“Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate applauds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and President Biden for updating regulations on soot pollution that will put our health, climate, and future above the short-term profits of polluting industries. We are pleased by the EPA’s efforts to more closely align with the scientific community’s recommendations regarding safe levels of airborne particulate matter. Soot pollution creates a major public health burden by introducing harmful particulates into our lungs and bloodstream, increasing risks of premature death, heart and lung disease, cancer, and more. Around 63 million Americans currently experience harmful amounts of soot pollution daily, with communities of color bearing the greatest burden of this harmful pollutant.
With the stricter standards now in place, the EPA can better protect public health and improve the quality of life for Americans across the country. This standard will save thousands of lives every year and benefit the economy by $43 billion per year in public health savings, with direct taxpayer healthcare cost savings of nearly $20 billion in the next decade. These statistics illustrate the economic benefits this updated standard will have, despite arguments to the contrary by some trade associations, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who have fought this rule in the past. History has shown that industries will adapt and continue to flourish despite changes to regulations that prioritize Americans’ health and futures. While we celebrate the progress made, we also look forward to future updates to tighten the 24-hour limit for short-term soot exposure, which will protect millions more.”
Samantha Grimes and Elic Weitzel, National Climate Fellows, Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate