169 Midwest Businesses, Organizations, and Religious Groups Sign On
Des Moines, Iowa – August 8, 2013: Today, 169 businesses and organizations from six Midwest states, including 20 Iowa businesses, religious, and health organizations, sent a letter to President Obama thanking him for the Climate Action Plan he laid out in June. The letter emphasized the importance of the President’s directive to the EPA to develop carbon pollution standards for existing power plants.
As reminders that climate change is upon us, the letter cited record flooding in parts of the Midwest this spring, less than one year after devastating drought over much of the region last summer and fall. “We look forward to working with you, EPA, and Midwestern electric utilities to meet this challenge,” the signatories wrote to the President.
Much of the letter is focused on recent extreme weather, adverse health impacts brought about by climate change, and how the region’s low-income communities are especially susceptible to climate change impacts.
“As people of faith, we are concerned about what kind of world we are leaving for our children and future generations,” said Susan Guy, director of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light. “We cannot seriously address the issue of climate change without addressing carbon pollution from existing power plants.”
