The COVID-19 crisis did not halt the Trump government's efforts to roll back major US environmental protections and warned both environmental and public health professionals. Since the outbreak of the pandemic flu in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has relaxed fuel economy standards. It can also make it more difficult to regulate other toxins by weakening the rules that suppress mercury contamination. And in direct response to the development of the coronavirus epidemic, the EPA announced in March that it "does not anticipate" punishment for pollutants for a wide range of violations related to routine monitoring and reporting requirements.
“They just seem to have nothing. I do not know. There is no shame. I don't know what to do, ”says Gina McCarthy, former EPA executive at the Obama administration, who is the chairman of the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council.
The budge McCarthy and the Corona Virus Crisis talked about the impact on people and the environment today and in the future.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What is the environmental impact of the COVID-19 crisis?
One of the things people are now realizing after COVID-19 is how small the world is, how we can be instantly devastated worldwide by public health threats, and how important it is for us to think about him and its applications is. Apparently to other global concerns such as climate change, our response to COVID-19 has brought about significant behavioral changes and adaptations that we need to do. And some of them can continue to affect the future. The world at the moment of crisis people You can change their behavior.
But certainly this is not the way you want pollution to be reduced. The path to a more sustainable future is not responding and adapting in this immediate way, so the economy is strong and people's ability to work is undermined.
I was very interested in the method Air quality has improved As a result of home order. What can we take from it?
The first is that people actually start seeing the environmental impact. It's shocking if you have a country like India, where many people are seeing the Himalayas for the first time. It's no longer terrifying to see air pollution as well as reducing water pollution, such as looking at Venice or looking at the canals. The sediment does not stir and is not black and brown. So people are starting to realize that we are affecting the world in a way that can lead to systematic changes.
One of the biggest takeaways for me is that people are wondering why COVID-19 is hitting so much in terms of the number of deaths African Americans have compared to the proportion of the population. It's no shock to anyone doing public health work, because it's true that the low-income communities are the biggest hits, as the low-income communities are always facing the lowest levels of pollution, such as fresh food and health. service. So, if you have a positive result, you may understand that the world is now unfair and climate change will continue to be unbalanced.
If we see more people who die with COVID-19, those who face air pollution affecting the lungs can be harmed by pollution. That's why at this point in time, this administration is doing everything it can think of to weaken pollution standards and roll back its ability to control pollution in the industry that still operates today. This is shocking to me because it means a ghastly meaning for the community left behind. They admit that they care less about the poor and the less interested than the wealthy and already strong, who are among the poor and who are trying to profit from the stimulus dollars. It shocks the fact that it can be so shameless.
The EPA's decision to ease oversight of pollutants during the epidemic has shocked many who are concerned about taking a break in a strong and polluted industry. What do you think about how that decision will affect people?
The “Don't Ask and Don't Tell Me” policy looks reasonable on the face, but there are no limits. Basically I make an excuse for not monitoring and reporting if there is a problem with COVID-19. The EPA also says it does not impose fines in such situations, and the agency itself can monitor whether the agency itself is legal, even if the industry itself is basically notified that there is a problem. And most importantly, inform the surrounding communities that there is an opportunity to increase pollution that directly affects their ability to monitor their health.
Therefore, the very industry that caused all the predispositions affecting health to humans living in the shade of these facilities [and] To be greatly influenced by COVID-19, these industries are those that can take advantage of this policy. They can send more pollution, which makes them extremely unable to cope with the challenges of COVID-19. And this is an unlimited prison escape card with no end visible. They did it, fully understanding that people don't know what's going on and can't protect themselves.
I read it, and I have never seen anything like it. No one has provided this broad journey to the industry in the midst of a crisis that affects the lungs where people die if the air they breathe is not clean.
We are also facing the economic fallout of the epidemic. What does the US economic downturn mean for protecting the environment?
What this means to a government that has true integrity and fulfills its mission. That means getting people to work again. You use stimulus dollars as an opportunity to help those in need. "How does the future look?" What to do for a better future if you invest trillions of dollars? Therefore, we must admit that there is an air pollution problem that maintains a high-risk skin color and low-income community with all kinds of diseases, including COVID-19. They must bring economic benefits to the community so that they can address some of the income inequality we face. They should expect and invest in clean energy jobs. They need to work people on the infrastructure needed for our water, sewer, and adaptation challenges to climate change today.
There are so many ways you can see it as building the next economy that does not continue to depend on future fossil fuels. Instead, what they fear is exactly the opposite. They will use a "back to the future" strategy to invest in fossil fuels for people and pollutants for people.
What lessons are you learning from how you responded to the corona virus crisis that could be applied to how to take action on climate change?
One of the things that it teaches is the value of science. We have been struggling in this administration with an attack on science, and it is unlikely we can proceed. Therefore, people need to pay attention to facts and science and listen to expert opinions.
No one wants to hear politicians' opinions about their views on science, instead of looking at experts. Maybe with Earth Day, people stood up and said, “Okay, this is ridiculous enough. Let's look at the real facts, look at science, listen to expert opinions, and find a way forward. ” I am sure these changes will be incredibly important. People will start participating again because they will have an ineffective democracy after realizing that they will otherwise lose. And when engaged, you can demand a future that protects your family and provides valuable stability and opportunities for your child.