The American Public Health Association (APHA) is voicing sharp criticism over the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Clean Power Plan pending the outcome of ongoing litigation.

Climate change is one of the leading public health threats we face,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of APHA. “The Clean Power Plan puts us on a course to dramatically reduce its harmful health effects, lessen air pollution and mitigate risk of asthma, injury and cardiovascular disease, among other serious dangers exacerbated by climate change. Simply put, unnecessarily delaying the Clean Power Plan puts public health at risk.”

Under the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Power Plan aims to reduce carbon pollution from power plants by 32 percent by the year 2030. Power plants are the leading contributor to climate change and are responsible for the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States.