EPA Carbon Pollution Hearing Thursday, May 

### 24'h 2012 Testimony- QuentinJames

2:30 minutes to 3 minutes

Hello, myname is Quentin James and I am the National Director ofthe Sierra Student Coalition, the youth arm ofthe Sierra Club. I am also proud to serve onthe National Board ofDirectors ofthe NAACP. At the Sierra Club, working with more than 13,000 high school and college students and 250 groups nationwide, ourmission is to train, empower and organize the next generation ofleaders in the environmental movement.

A great manyofthe youth we work with are members ofthe Sierra Student Coalition because theytreasure and enjoy ourcountry's great outdoors and wild places. They are hikers, campers, anglers, hunters, swimmers, beachgoers, skiers and snowboarders. They share a common interest in the Sierra Club's mission, to explore, enjoy and protect the planet. Unfortunately, air pollution oftenhinders our abilityto be outside, and is a particularburden for young people suffering from asthma and otherrespiratory diseases. We know that approximately 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, and we know that children are more likely than adults to have asthma. Doctors tell us that ground level
ozone, or smog, is a leading cause ofasthma attacks and contributes to missed school days, increased use ofmedicine, and trips to the hospital and emergencyroom. Further, scientists tell us that carbon pollution, which contributes to hotter days and summers, leads to increased ozone pollution and thereby more days when it'sunsafe for many young people to beoutside.

So, simply put, young people are uniquely affected bycarbon pollution and they are also uniquely aware ofthe environmental and ecological challenges facing our country. Most ofthem have literally seen climate disruption in their lifetimes, and they are keenly aware ofthe fact that, ifnot addressed, today's environmental problems could become tomorrow's environmental catastrophes- catastrophes that they and their children will be forced to live with.

When Italk to students across the country, the feedback is clear: Theyknow climate disruption is happening. In fact, polling tells us that in greater numbers than any other age group, young people aged 18-29 consider a warming planet a serious problem. They know climate disruption means increased respiratoryhealth issues, such as childhood asthma, because ofmore asthma-inducing smog. Theyknow climate disruption means an increasingly less secure world, both domesticallybecause ofextreme weather and globallybecause ofdwindlingresources. Theyknow that ifwe are to thrive economically in a changing and constantly advancing world we must decrease ourdependence on dangerous, dirty fuels and increasingly turn to homegrown renewables. And they know that the time to act is now, that we must support steps such as the new carbon pollution standards to get Americabackon track, putting the next generation to work and staving offthe worst effects ofthe climate crisis.In closing, Iwant to again reiterate that the Sierra Student Coalition stands with the EPA

on the carbon pollution standard for existing power plants, and we strongly encourage the Administration to continueto act to protect ourhealth, economic future, and environmental qualityby addressing the very real threat ofcarbon pollution. Thank you.