Ceres Calls for Stronger Federal Standards To Reduce Dangerous Particulate Pollution That Harms Public Health and the Economy
The Biden administration’s proposed standard to curb the deadly pollutant do not go far enough, and stronger standards are needed to improve public health and yield economic benefits between $44 billion and $93 billion.
February 22, 2023 /3BL Media/ - Ceres urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today to adopt stronger standards for pollution from fine particulate matter, otherwise known as PM 2.5 or soot, than what the agency released in a proposed rule issued last month.
Fine particulate matter is a harmful and deadly pollutant produced by fossil fuel power plants, vehicle emissions, and other industrial sources that causes significant health challenges. The Biden administration aims to reduce negative health impacts from particulate matter pollution with an updated standard.
Ceres Senior Program Director of Climate and Energy Dan Bakal testified in front of EPA officials in support of stronger standards, making the business case for strong particulate standards and emphasizing that the proposed standard does not go far enough to protect public health, especially in low-income communities and communities of color.
巴卡尔说：“ PM 2.5引起许多健康问题，例如婴儿死亡率增加，心血管疾病，哮喘和其他呼吸道问题，认知障碍和早亡。”“就目前而言，拟议中的规则将继续使全国各地的社区面临不安全的空气污染水平。”
Ceres also submitted awritten letterto EPA Administrator Michael Regan advocating for stronger standards on behalf of theCeres二头肌网络该国领先的公司联盟致力于倡导强大的联邦和州可持续性政策。金博宝怎么注册
Signed by Ceres Vice President of Government Relations Anne Kelly, the letter highlighted that a more aggressive standard would yield between $44 billion and $93 billion in economic benefits, much higher than the benefits of the EPA’s proposed standard.
The letter also emphasized that companies are already moving to take advantage of the substantial tax incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, accelerating the shift to clean energy and clean transportation sources and making stronger standards even more feasible while yielding economic benefits.
凯利写道：“全国各地的公司以及所有行业的公司都在做出减少排放并促进人们和经济的可持续发展途径的承诺，他们需要强大的政策来支持他们的努力。”
Both Ceres testimony and the letter from the Ceres BICEP Network called for the EPA’s annual PM 2.5 standard to be reduced from 12 µg/ m3 to 8 µg/ m3 and the 24-hour standard be reduced to 25 µg/ m3, which would align with the recommendations of the EPA’s own Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee. The EPA is currently proposing an annual standard of 9-10 µg/ m3, and the agency has not proposed any adjustment to the 24-hour standard, which is currently 35 µg/ m3.
Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.
Media Contact:Helen Booth-Tobin
