1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

The EPA's announcement of plans to roll back dozens of crucial environmental regulations is deeply concerning and jeopardizes public health, environmental protection, and efforts to combat climate change. Eliminating rules on power plant emissions, vehicle pollution standards, and Clean Water Act protections would have disastrous consequences. These regulations were carefully developed based on scientific evidence to safeguard air and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, and protect vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by pollution. Dismantling these environmental safeguards is a severe setback that prioritizes corporate profits over the well-being of Americans and the planet. It ignores the overwhelming scientific consensus on the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy to avert the worst impacts of climate change. Rolling back these rules will increase air and water pollution, exacerbate the climate crisis, adversely affect public health, and disproportionately harm low-income communities and communities of color. Rather than gutting vital environmental protections, the EPA should be strengthening regulations and policies to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate the transition to renewable energy, and protect vulnerable populations from environmental injustices. I urge the EPA to reconsider this reckless and harmful deregulatory agenda that sacrifices public health, environmental quality, and a livable climate for short-term economic interests. The long-term costs of inaction on environmental protection and climate change far outweigh any perceived economic benefits.