As we continue to adapt to the “new normal” that we’re faced with during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are thinking about the tens of thousands of people who are ill, health care workers on the front lines, countless families facing devastating economic hardship, and millions of children out of school.
And, as this pandemic continues, we see more and more links between impacts of coronavirus and air pollution. Air pollution is harmful to our lungs — and so is coronavirus. People who are breathing polluted air may be at greater risk of complications from this virus. To make matters worse, the EPA, headed by Administrator Andrew Wheeler is taking advantage of our distraction by continuing to attack vital clean air protections by gutting Clean Car Standards, loosening compliance and enforcement of pollution standards, moving to censor the types of scientific research that EPA can consider when setting pollution standards, and more.
Moderator Karina Martinez will speak to our Iowa organizer Karin Stein, Arizona organizer Columba Sainz, and Nevada organizer Cinthia Moore about coronavirus, the Latino community, and how advocating for strong protections from air pollution has changed during the pandemic.