RICHMOND – Today, President Trump released an executive order dismantling key clean air protections that protect public health as well as multiple Obama-era efforts to combat climate change, including the signature Clean Power Plan.
This latest assault on clean air via executive order follows on the heels of Trump’s proposed budget, which zeroed out funding for climate change research, international outreach and coordination on the climate crisis, and many programs aimed at curbing domestic greenhouse gas emissions.
In response to today’s action, Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:
“President Trump may believe that fighting climate change is ‘stupid,’ but at the end of the day, he’s the one with his head in the sand. Whether it’s rising seas flooding Norfolk neighborhoods and military bases or drought and severe weather threatening southside farmers and rural communities, climate change impacts all Virginians.”
“Climate policies like the Clean Power Plan are a win-win for the American people – less harmful air pollution alongside lower electric bills and increased economic opportunities. Overturning this rule sends us in the wrong direction and makes it clear that Trump is more interested in doing polluters’ bidding than protecting the public health of real Americans.”
“Here in Virginia, we must hold the line against President Trump’s dangerous and reckless policies. Governor McAuliffe has the opportunity to be a bulwark against this attack on clean air by implementing a strong plan to cut carbon pollution in the Commonwealth while creating thousands of clean energy jobs. When climate policy at the federal level is headed backwards, Virginia can and must keep moving forward.”