The White House Offers a Pollution Party Platter Without Solutions
The new executive order will take aim at the Clean Power Plan and other key climate policies in a multi-pronged retreat from leadership on the biggest threat to birds and people.
WASHINGTON—In response to President Donald Trump’s upcoming executive order, which would direct federal agencies to revise or rescind rules that burden domestic oil, coal and gas production without consideration of potential climate impacts, the National Audubon Society issued the following statement:
“There are numerous paths to reach a clean energy future, but none-of-the-above isn't one of them. The administration is taking off the table our most concrete plans to deal with climate change—but without a single alternative," said David Yarnold (@david_yarnold), Audubon's president and CEO.
"That's reckless and let's call it what it is: helping rich corporations get even richer.
“Our kids and grandkids are the big losers as a result of this assault on our future. So are 314 species of birds that Audubon already knows are at risk because of climate change. We don't believe that's what Americans voted for in November."
Today’s executive order comes two weeks after the President ordered the EPA to revisit fuel-economy standards for American car manufacturers, and one week after the Yale Program on Climate Communication published data showing 69 percent of Americans want restrictions on carbon emissions.
“It’s a shame that in a time when most Americans support limits on carbon pollution, the White House keeps moving in the opposite direction,” said Matthew Anderson, Audubon’s VP for climate.
“We know there are Republicans, Independents and Democrats all across the country who want Washington to stop sticking its head in the sand and address the single largest threat facing birds and people. When will the White House listen to the American people?
“Audubon will continue working at the local, state and federal level to fight for meaningful climate solutions in every possible way.”
In 2014, Audubon published its Birds and Climate Change Report. The study shows that more than half of the bird species in North America could lose at least half of their current ranges by 2080 due to rising temperatures. These species include the Bald Eagle, the American Kestrel and the Bullock’s Oriole. Given the urgent threat climate change poses to birds and people, Audubon supports common-sense, bipartisan solutions that reduce carbon pollution at the speed and scale necessary.
To learn more about Audubon’s Climate Initiative, including how members and supporters can take steps to help birds in a changing climate, please visit www.audubon.org/climate.
The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon’s vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Audubon is a nonprofit conservation organization. Learn more at www.audubon.org and @audubonsociety.
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Contact: Nicolas Gonzalez, ngonzalez@audubon.org, (212) 979-3068.