Photo by iStock.com/plherrera
This Wednesday and Thursday, the EPA hosted a two-day public hearing on a proposed rule to strengthen vehicle emissions standards. Testifiers included Sierra Club President Ramón Cruz and Katherine García, the Acting Director of the Clean Transportation for All Campaign, as well as Sierra Club chapter leaders, volunteers, elected officials, and partners.
The transportation sector is the leading source of climate-disrupting pollution in the US, and passenger vehicles and trucks are responsible for the majority of these emissions. This is also a major source of air pollution that predominantly harms BIPOC families and individuals. Public testimony from community members and activists is critical to ensuring that the Biden administration fulfills its promise to create a livable and just future that places our health and the health of our climate before corporate profits.
We followed and live-tweeted the EPA hearing and were moved by all the personal stories shared.
Here is a sampling:
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter's Tim Minotas with a strong message for the @EPA: "We need to make clean car standards as strong and far-reaching as possible - it would be a win for our climate, jobs, economy and families, at a time when we most need it." #CleanerCars #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/tdIBtTky7j
— Katherine Garcia (@katherinejulia) August 26, 2021
Cars and light trucks account for 17% of #ClimatePollutionThis morning I joined other @cleanairmoms at the public hearing on the agency's proposed clean car standards to tell the @EPA we cannot address the #ClimateCrisis without #cleanercars pic.twitter.com/g1aH2QE7Gc
— Celerah Hewes (@Celerah) August 25, 2021
What I told @epa at #cleanercars hearing today: My teenage son is an athlete who trains outside in the summer. He plays football, and his team started daily practices last week. We have had several heat emergency days, and today is a code orange air day for #ozone.
— Molly Rauch (@mollyrauch) August 25, 2021
@cleanairmoms, @epa, and your lawmakers. Hashtags: #cleanercars, #actonclimate, #climatecrisis, #momsdrivechange. Sample: "Getting ready to tell @EPA why @cleanairmoms want #cleanercars at tomorrow's/today's public hearing on the agency's proposed clean car standards." pic.twitter.com/ze0KaJNUdl
— Shaina (@Shaina41466050) August 25, 2021
A stream of environmentalists and public health advocates have delivered the same warnings today during an EPA public hearing over the proposal. #Climate https://t.co/OBIBCm0b2o
— Jennifer A. Dlouhy (@jendlouhyhc) August 25, 2021
Glad to have had the opportunity to testify @EPA #CleanerCars hearing today! There is still time to make your voice heardhttps://t.co/I4FFuxCXeS
— Amanda Begley (@AmandaBegley_) August 25, 2021
Today and tomorrow,@RamonCruzDiaz and hundreds of other advocates are demanding@EPA strengthen its #CleanerCars standards!
— Sierra Club (@SierraClub) August 25, 2021
Share your own account of what cleaning up our transportation system would mean for you --> https://t.co/ad4qQDitgC#ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/aRdj73nabU
.@jackdarin joined 200+ people in testifying to urge @EPA to strengthen #CleanerCars standards and #ActOnClimate
— Illinois Sierra Club (@SierraClubIL) August 26, 2021
"Not setting a bold standard means IL will continue to face intensifying climate disasters, & won't be doing everything possible to protect the most vulnerable." pic.twitter.com/xyHuGMuAxQ
V has a message for @EPA “cars create a lot of pollution and are a big part of the climate change problem. We need EPA to help cars pollute less.” @CleanAirMoms #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/nlEMi9AB8T
— Elizabeth Brandt (@fire_brandt) August 26, 2021
"This is a major equity issue for Charlotte. Low-income, Black, and immigrant communities experience disproportionate harm from dirty vehicle pollution, leading to increased rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. " -- @choosesam at the @EPA asking for #CleanerCars pic.twitter.com/Vq6cPqsmzp
— Bekah (@BekahJaneW) August 26, 2021
We are listening to the second day of @EPA public hearing for #CleanerCars and one thing is clear: Americans OVERWHELMINGLY support strong standards to curb GHG emissions from cars and light duty trucks to protect our health & future. #ActOnClimate #EnvironmentalJustice https://t.co/QbqstknFO0
— Environmental Protection Network (@EnvProtectioNet) August 26, 2021
Zack Pistora @SierraClubKS:
— Sierra Club Live (@SierraClubLive) August 26, 2021
"I think about each & every one of you & the impact you personally can make... We have the power & moral obligation to do more. Why aren't we?"
Zack's right, @EPA holds a lot of power! Which is why it is their duty to use that power. #CleanerCars pic.twitter.com/1mznLHWP8Z
Renee Millard Chacon is an Indigenous leader and #coloradan with @SpiritoftheSun1. Today she asked @EPA to finalize STRONG #cleanercars standards to help protect Indigenous and other disproportionately impacted communities. Thank you Renee for speaking out. @cleanairmoms
— Molly Rauch (@mollyrauch) August 25, 2021
"I came to Michigan over two decades ago for the cars & stayed for the lakes & am grateful to live in the state that is home to the world's largest freshwater ecosystem. And I feel the responsibility of it too."
— Sierra Club Live (@SierraClubLive) August 26, 2021
- MI Representative @PadmaKuppaMI41 to @EPA
#CleanerCars
People living near busy roads are on the frontlines of transportation pollution, says @DangItVinh of @BridgeBeyondnat in Philly.
— Sierra Club Live (@SierraClubLive) August 26, 2021
Those experiencing homelessness are vulnerable to respiratory diseases due to air pollution & heat stroke/exhaustion due to climate change.
Vehicle pollution disproportionately impacts low-wealth and BIPOC communities, leading to higher rates of asthma & other respiratory challenges. We need the strongest possible #CleanerCars standards from @EPA NOW, b/c #CleanerCars = Environmental Justice pic.twitter.com/GKUrptx1u4
— rev yearwood (@RevYearwood) August 25, 2021
Unable to testify but want to share your own account of what cleaning up our transportation system would mean for you? Join over 12,000 other Sierra Club supporters by speaking up here!