Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, in an interview with Washington Post Reporter Juliet Eilperin, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, after admitting to not reading the entire National Climate Assessment even though his own agency played a key role in drafting it. He dismissed the assessment, wrongly implying the data is political, while taking credit for pollution reductions resulting from Obama administration policies. Wheeler’s EPA has rolled back carbon pollution protections, including repealing the Clean Power Plan and a gutting methane safeguards. Since he became Acting Administrator, Wheeler has taken action that harms public health on average of every three days.
In response, Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Liz Perera released the following statement:
“It comes as no surprise that coal lobbyist and Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler would try to discredit a report urging the US away from fossil fuels -- he’s still serving polluter interests. The data in the report is clear: we need to act on climate now. Unfortunately, Wheeler would rather do the bidding of the fossil fuel executives who used to sign his paychecks than protect public health and a safe and healthy environment."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.