This guest post is by Gill Capper, program manager at APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity.

Federal government actions are dangerously turning back progress on lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to weaken and eliminate lifesaving rules and regulations that have been effective in reducing air pollution. On July 29, EPA director Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s plan to roll back the agency’s 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicles standards, which established that increased heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger public health. The move deliberately ignores decades of science research and rulings by federal courts.

EPA also wants to repeal the Mercury and Air Toxics and carbon pollution standards for power plants, which are major greenhouse gas emitters, putting current and future generations of people in the U.S. at risk for premature death and compromised health.

Without the EPA standards, oil and gas companies, auto manufacturers and power plants can operate with virtually no environmental regulations. Pumping additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is the main driver of climate change, which is intensifying heat waves and extreme weather, worsening air pollution and wildfires and threatening human life and health — with marginalized and low-income communities facing the greatest health risks.

APHA spoke out against the proposal at EPA's public hearing and partnered with the American Lung Association’s Healthy Air Campaign to submit comments. As public health and health professionals, you can voice your disapproval of the proposed rule by sending a message through APHA’s Action Center. Public comments are open through Sept. 22.

Public health professionals are also encouraged to take part in upcoming events that address the health impacts of climate change.

One of those is a live training on Sept. 17 focused on the newly updated Building Resilience Against Climate Effects framework, hosted by APHA's Center for Climate, Health and Equity and ecoAmerica. Also known as BRACE, the framework centers justice, equity and belonging in climate action and provides tools and resources for health departments, communities and cross-sector partners to identify climate and health threats and co-develop effective strategies.

APHA will also be part of Climate Week NYC, Sept. 21-28. APHA, the Smart Surfaces Coalition and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law will be hosting an event that explores how cities reduce the urban heat effect by using “smart” surfaces on roofs and pavements and city infrastructure.

Photo by DWalker44, courtesy iStockphoto