Comments to EPA Bearing on Carbon PoUution Standards for New Power Plants 5/25/2012 Thank you My name: Maureen McCue MD PhD 0 .x

# PO"J. cJil . My affiliations and training: Physician and Professor of Global Health , University oflowa I'm unlikely to say anything about which you are unaware. Rather I see my role here today as speaking in support of your efforts to protect our health by limiting carbon emissions from new utilities burning any ofa variety of carbon based fuels primarily coal but including natural gas,**hjpmai~~** and others. For any coal or other fossil fuel burning utility, new or old, emissions of C02 , NOx , SOx, Particulate Matter, Mercury, other heavy metal s and green house gases are all released. Each is well known to be harmful to health either directly or indirectly through impacts on the climate and environment. While the U . S. is no longer the largest national emitter of carbon based pollution , it remains number one for the largest cumulative contribution of C02 in the atmosphere. U . S. citizens continue to produce the most carbon pollution on a per capita basis. Our carbon footprint is well above all other developed nations and most especially many times more than most of those in the poorer countries of the world- those hurt most by our changing climate. Carbon PoUution drives climate change . Climate Change is one ofthe gravest health threats facing our nation , and, the population of the entire world . Action is urgently needed to reduce carbon pollution and limit its most severe health effects. Climate change is here, now . Regardles s of the difficulties in drawing clear lines between particular weather events and climate change there is a strong relationship between the emerging patterns ofdi sasters and global warming . And , to acknowledge Mr. Romney who questions why we should be constrained in responding to a global phenomenon, as if it were not " American " warming, I'd like to quickly review recent US experience 2011 was a year of extremes . Thousands of Weather Records were broken all across the US . 2000-2010: Warmest Decade on Record 2010 , 2005 were the hottest years since records were kept beginning in 1880. We have experienced 35 consecutive years with global temperatures > 20th century average. The Costs of this changing climate are climbing. Health Costs of just 6 US . climate change-related events 2002-2009 : $14 billion. Note : this figure does not include related and les s intense "morbidity" costs of several climate related vector or water borne di seases , allergies , mental health or food insecurity costs . The following events are all expected to increase in extent, frequency, and intensity : --Heat Waves Increasing Ozone Air Pollution across the nation- to which our existing coal plantscontribute ; Increasing periods of severe drought with more frequent Wildfires 

### --Hurricanes and other extreme storm events More frequent torrential downpours , flooding , with associated water-borne & food borne diseases . Iowa is increasingly familiar with this phenomenon. 

### --Infectious Diseases like the West Nile Virus outbreaks -Increasing levels of Pollens and Allergy 

### --Ecosystem disruptions , leading to food and water supply insecurity



### - Reduced Mental Health and community wellbeing

- Increasing numbers of environmental refugees both as displaced U.S . Citizens & others seeking entry. 

### Other real "costs" of concern: Insurance for travelers , farmers , home owners , businesses ; and the individual and community costs of 

### preparedness. Lastly, Carbon pollution, climate change can also be considered generational child abuse: The love and concern for children in one state or country is no different than the love and concern for children in every country. What goes around , comes around . If we want our children to live long healthy lives , we must oppose any child anywhere being sickened as a result of policies made or not made 

### in our time. Let's do for all the world's children what we want done for our own children , work to make the world a healthier, more peaceful place. 

### We don't have to continue our excessive carbon pollution . Europe, and much ofthe rest of the world i s learning how to live comfortably on much less carbon. California has demonstrated that individual s can reduce their carbon footprint , 

### if there is the political will. Unfortunately, much of the rest of the country needs help in reducing carbon emis sion s. The U .S. coal industry is facing major headwind s. Coal ' s attractivenes s is rapidly dimini shing. Since 2010 , plant operators have announced 106 retirements - representing 13 % of the U. S. fleet of coal f acilities . The current drop in generation is mostly due to competition from natural gas which has it's own problems with both C02 and methane, an even more powerful greenhouse gas . Other factors will assist in diminishing coal and other sources ofcarbon pollution in our electricity mix including an aging fleet ofplants, cost-competitive renewables , and new clean air regulation s. The next step in clearing the air and protecting our health is to limit the emissions of more C02. When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. When a powerful monster comes near, don ' t feed or provoke it. The time to stop feeding the climate change monster is now . Limiting and reducing C02 emissions from new carbon burning utilities is but a small start on a long road.c: 0 25 .00

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0 . 10 Carbon Dioxide Intensity and Per Capita C02 Emissions -- 2001 (Fossil Fuel Combustion Only)


## United States 

# • Netherlands 

# • + Belgium 

## California Denmark 

# • Japan + 

# • •

0 . 20 0.30 

# • Austria 

# • + Germany • + Italy France

0 .40 0.50 0 . 60 New Zealand

+ Mexico

0 . 70 intens i ty (tons of C02 per 2000 US Dollar) 

# • Canada


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# • Australia

S . Korea

0 .80 0 .90 1.00

# $14 billion in health-related costs from just six 

# US climate change-related events, 2002-2009 (Knowlton et al., Health Affairs 

## 2011) Six U S Cue Studlu, 2002 -2009. Ruulted In More Tb1n $14**~n** In Climate-Related Htalth Costs.**0\wa~-w-655** -· 1,620ho .............. ond

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## T able 1 . 

## Health costs in clin1ate change -re lated case s tud y areas, with c osts er health effect , 2002 throu h 2009 .

- Climate Change- Total Health Related Case Premature Cost by Case Study Death Illness Study Ozone smog pol- $6 .3 B illion $254 M il l io n $ 6 . 5 Bill ion 

## lution I 

## Heat wave 

# I $5 . 2 B i ll ion $179 M i ll ion $ 5 . 3 B i ll ion 

## Hurricane $1 . 1 B i ll ion $255 M i ll i o n $1 .4 Bill ion 

## Wildfire $545 M i llion $34 Mi ll ion $578 Mi lli o n 

## Mosquito-borne 

## I $190 M illi o n $1 8 M illi on $207 Mi llion 

## infectious disease River flooding $16 M i ll io n $5 M i ll io n $20 M i ll io n 

## Total costs (in $13 .3 Billion $744 Million $14 . 1 Billion U.S . dollars , 2008) 

# http:/ /www.nrdc.org/health/accountingforcosts/**~** 

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