Pruitt Eliminates Climate Adaptation and Threatens Recovery Efforts Amid Two Massive Hurricanes

Washington, D.C. --  In the wake of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation along the Gulf Coast and Hurricane Irma’s havoc in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean and pending threats in Florida, Scott Pruitt has eliminated the EPA’s climate adaptation office, according to a spokesperson and as reported by Politico Pro. Additionally, an internal memo confirms that the office of Environmental Justice will be dramatically reorganized and moved into the Office of Policy. Previously, Pruitt and Trump pushed to eliminate all funding for the EPA’s Environmental Justice office. This decision comes amid Pruitt’s comments to CNN yesterday that the time to discuss “the cause and effect of these storms … [is] not now” and that bringing up climate change is “”very insensitive.”

In response, Sierra Club Florida Chapter Chair Frank Jackalone and Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter Chair Reggie James released the following joint statement:

“Scott Pruitt is now actively imperiling our nation’s ability to prepare for and respond to hurricanes like Harvey and Irma and threatening our ability to protect the communities that need help most. A historic storm is barreling toward Florida threatening destruction just a week after Texas experienced one of the most catastrophic flooding events we have ever seen, but rather than doing his job and aiding our communities, Scott Pruitt thinks today is the day to eliminate the office that helps states adapt to rising seas and extreme weather.

“Low income communities and communities of color are the hardest hit by extreme weather and Harvey proved first hand that the toxic threats they face daily are multiplied by these superstorms, yet Pruitt is now rendering the office meant to address those injustices ineffective.

“This is an outrageous, offensively bad decision at exactly the wrong time and Pruitt should be ashamed of himself. Pruitt’s job is to help protect the people in our communities who need help, not pull the wool over their eyes and bury his head in the sand.”

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