Policy favors polluters over our health

Speaking as a medical doctor, repealing the Endangerment Finding in climate policy is unacceptable by any standards. The administration’s decision deliberately harms Americans by exposing people to known toxins. I am outraged at the wanton disregard for the scientific and medical knowledge that enables the advancement of society and allows people to live longer and better lives.

In hospitals and clinics, we see the consequences of poor air quality, extreme heat and severe weather events daily. We all suffer a mental toll when dealing with loss from a flood or caring for a child who develops asthma. These are just examples of the known consequences of ignoring decades of evidence showing that greenhouse gas pollution endangers our health.

For Illinois, this decision could amount to $29 billion in health harms in the next 30 years, according to an analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund. Illinoisans stand to suffer some of the greatest health harms being one of the five of the most impacted states. This means premature deaths of the people we love, asthma attacks, emergency room and hospital admissions and lost days of school and work. For the entire United States, the human toll could reach up to $500 billion dollars. This is not a legacy that leads to greatness.

This decision prioritizes industry profits over the health of the American people. Our patients, families and communities are paying the cost while polluters are shielded from accountability.

As a doctor, it is my job to let patients know when something is harmful to their health. The repeal of the Endangerment Finding is a great harm to our health. Our leaders, this administration and polluters should be held accountable. We deserve better.

Regina de Leon Gomez

Arlington Heights