CHESTCHEST NewsSupporting standards for reduced carbon dioxide emissions

Supporting standards for reduced carbon dioxide emissions

Together with a coalition of medical societies, the American College of Chest Physicians formally supports the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in granting the California waiver for greenhouse gas emissions because of their long history of enforcing environmental regulations that exceed standards.

Amicus briefs, filed by the America Thoracic Society and supported by the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Medical Association, American Association for Respiratory Care, American College of Physicians, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the National League for Nursing, the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Academic Pediatric Association, argue that the Clean Air Act is a public health statute that serves the precise aim of slowing climate change and the public health crisis that it foments. 

Both Ohio and Texas are fighting to prevent California from implementing additional standards that support their desire to implement the Advanced Clean Car program further limiting emissions. The position of the consortium of societies is that retaining the California waiver authority is critical to allow California and the U.S. to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In support of these measures, the following arguments have been presented in two amicus briefs and submitted to the United States Court of Appeals.

The arguments outlined in the Ohio brief state that:

  • The Advanced Clean Car program reduces criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases to facilitate California’s compliance with the Clean Air Act

  • The Advanced Clean Car program responds to the compelling and extraordinary conditions in California caused by air pollution and climate change

The arguments outlined in the Texas brief state that:

  • EPA’s Standards are consistent with the Clean Air Act’s purpose of promoting public health

  • The Standards reduce vehicle emissions that harm public health

  • The Standards will benefit communities that face disproportionate harm from climate change and air pollution

Click the links below to read the full amicus briefs.

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