Supporting standards for reduced carbon dioxide emissions
February 13, 2023
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.