How Sierra Club is functioning daily during Covid-19:
Based on advice from Sierra Club's safety team, we are extending our current COVID-19 cautionary status through Sunday, June 14th. There will be no travel, no in-person meetings, no public events and no outings through this date. Offices are functionally closed. But we are all here, working from home, doing our best to pursue Sierra Club priorities and values during these times. Executive Director Michael Brune released a statement on COVID-19 and the actions we are taking as an organization.
Although Covid might be the only thing you see in the news these days, polluters are still at work, and Sierra Club is standing strong in support of our environment, public health, and justice. Here are a few updates:
US EPA Eases Pollution Restrictions for Car Fuel Standards:
On March 30th, the Trump administration rolled back fuel efficiency standards established during the Obama administration. The rolled back rule required car manufacturers to average 54 miles per gallon by 2025 for their fleets. The new Trump rule reduces that fuel efficiency standard from 54 miles per gallon by 2025 to 40 miles per gallon.
But the EPA didn't stop with vehicles. They have also proposed to roll back environmental regulations governing mercury emissions, toxic ash, and the consideration of climate change during planning processes. Read more details here.
Click here to tell the EPA to Stop Giving Polluters a Free Pass During the Epidemic
Federal Pursuit of Profit Over Public Health and the Environment:
A new analysis by the Center for Western Priorities found that in the month after President Trump signed the first emergency coronavirus bill on March 6, the Interior Department pursued 57 policy actions unrelated to COVID-19. While small businesses were shutting down and our communities were sheltering in place, DOI moved ahead with unfettered oil and gas leasing, removing protections for endangered wildlife, and expanding mining operations across the country.
Covid-19 and Environmental Justice:
Environmental racism has been an issue throughout US history. Disproportionate exposure to pollutants leads to a number of adverse health effects in communities of color and low-income communities. And the same discrimination that leads to polluting facilities being located in these communities also creates food deserts, limits access to healthcare, and drives up the cost of utilities. The current pandemic has exacerbated all of these stressors on people’s lives. New Research Links Air Pollution to Higher Coronavirus Death Rates. Many families are facing loss of income and are at risk of having their utilities shut off. People who can’t even pay their rent aren’t likely to risk medical bills by going to the hospital and seeking treatment for COVID-19 symptoms. People of color are dying from the discriminatory systems and structures that have been putting our health and safety at risk for generations. The virus has only exacerbated the effects of environmental racism and institutionalized white supremacy.
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Who's Hit Hardest By COVID-19? Why Obesity Stress And Race All Matter, Apr 18
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Coronavirus hits Indian Country hard, exposing infrastructure disparities, Apr 19
Sierra Club Response to Stimulus Package:
On April 27, in response to the Covid crisis, Sierra Club sent a job-creating stimulus proposal to Congress. With over 26 million people filing for unemployment in the past five weeks, this stimulus plan would put millions of people back to work while building a healthier, more equitable economy.
The goal is not to rebuild the unjust, crisis-prone, pre-COVID economy. Instead, we're proposing specific, shovel-ready projects to chart a path to a more equitable economy that better supports the health of our communities and planet.
Indeed, these stimulus priorities would tackle the concurrent crises of unemployment, public health, inequity, and climate change. This stimulus would support working families, reduce air and water pollution that is exacerbating COVID risks, counter systemic injustices that the crisis has magnified, and tackle the climate crisis that is compounding threats to our economy and health. The specific proposals would create millions of good jobs to replace lead pipes, build clean and affordable public transit, modernize our grid, build and repair public housing, manufacture essential health and clean energy goods, clean up hazardous waste, strengthen communities’ disaster preparedness, and more.
Our point: Covid-19 has brought great danger to our communities. It has exposed parts of our society that need changing, and it brings opportunity for us to replace dysfunctional systems (and presidential administrations) with better ways of doing things; ways that respect people and the planet on which we all depend. Sierra Club locally and nationally is dedicated to standing strong in pursuit of those better days. Stay safe friends!