(April 25, 2024) WASHINGTON – At this time, the U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) released a last rule to restrict air pollution from coal and new pure gas-fired energy crops, which can assist sluggish the rise in world temperatures and cut back dangerous air air pollution. Mixed with the buildout of unpolluted vitality that’s being accelerated by the historic investments within the Inflation Reduction Act, local weather air pollution from the electrical energy sector might be minimize in half by 2030, delivering necessary advantages to communities, birds, and different wildlife.
“Energy crops are one of many largest emitters of greenhouse gases and one of many largest sources of dangerous air air pollution impacting the well being and well-being of surrounding communities. The EPA’s daring motion is a common sense strategy to embracing the way forward for clear vitality, assembly the nation’s local weather targets, and realizing a more healthy future for individuals and wildlife,” stated Sarah Rose, vice chairman of local weather on the Nationwide Audubon Society.
This last rule is projected to cut back carbon air pollution by 1.38 billion metric tons by 2047, which is equal to the annual emissions from 328 million gasoline powered vehicles. The rule will even result in higher public well being outcomes. In line with the EPA, in 2035 alone, this rule will keep away from as many as 1,200 untimely deaths in addition to 870 hospital and emergency room go to
Greater than 28,000 Audubon supporters despatched feedback in assist of the rule.
Adopting forward-looking local weather and clear vitality coverage is vital to preserving the locations that birds must survive. Audubon is working throughout the nation to make sure wind, photo voltaic, and transmission infrastructure is constructed responsibly to keep away from and mitigate impacts to birds and different wildlife. Audubon’s 2023 report, Birds and Transmission: Building the Grid Birds Need, shares options for minimizing dangers to birds.
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About Audubon
The Nationwide Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation group that protects birds and the locations they want in the present day and tomorrow. We work all through the Americas in the direction of a future the place birds thrive as a result of Audubon is a strong, numerous, and ever-growing power for conservation. Audubon has greater than 700 employees working throughout the hemisphere and greater than 1.5 million energetic supporters. North America has misplaced three billion birds since 1970, and greater than 500 chicken species are susceptible to extinction throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning methods in regards to the well being of our surroundings, they usually inform us that birds – and our planet – are in disaster. Collectively as one Audubon, we’re working to change the course of local weather change and habitat loss, resulting in more healthy chicken populations and reversing present tendencies in biodiversity loss. We do that by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with native communities, influencing public and company coverage, and constructing neighborhood. Be taught extra at www.audubon.org and on Fb, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.
Media contact: Megan Moriarty, megan.moriarty@audubon.org