FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 21, 2022
CONTACT: Stephanie Cepak, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy
Communications, scepak@byrumfisk.com
Groups: New plan prioritizes communities impacted most by
climate change, outlines actions to improve public health
Groups respond to final MI Healthy Climate plan and what
it means for Michigan
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
released the MI
Healthy Climate plan that outlines policies to significantly reduce
dangerous pollution in our air and water, prioritize communities that have
shouldered the burden of pollution for far too long, and improve public health
as it guides Michigan to achieve our state and international climate goals.
The following are statements from organizations
upon release of the MI Healthy Climate Plan:
“We appreciate the leadership of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to
set Michigan on a strong path toward addressing the impacts of climate change
and protecting future generations of Michiganders,” said Conan Smith,
President & CEO of the Michigan Environmental Council. “The MI
Healthy Climate plan packs a punch. Whether it’s expanding our state’s use of
wind and solar, repairing and improving Michigan’s building stock to make homes
more energy efficient or aligning our state with the federal government’s
Justice40 funding guidelines, the hours of work that have gone into creating
this plan are worth it because Michigan is truly poised to make huge strides in
tackling the climate crisis.”
“We know the status quo in Michigan has led to higher rates
of asthma and respiratory disease than other parts of the nation, and our
frontline low-income and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
communities have shouldered the burden of dirty air and water for far too
long,” said Kathleen Slonager, RN, AE-C, CCH, Director Asthma &
Allergy Foundation of America - Michigan Chapter. “This MI Healthy Climate
plan is a plan for action. Action to finally clean up our act and put Michigan
on a clean energy and clean vehicle pathway. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has sounded
the call and now we must work together with the Legislature and Michigan Public
Service Commission to cut 28% of state emissions by 2025 and achieve
economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050.”
“The MI Healthy Climate Plan creates a roadmap for our state
to move off fossil fuels with the urgency that science and justice demands,”
said Kate Madigan, director of the Michigan Climate Action Network.
“For communities across Michigan that have been going it alone on their
sustainability goals and responding to increasing flooding and other climate
impacts for years, they finally have a partner in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. She is
willing to do what it takes to reduce dangerous pollution coming from tailpipes
and power plants to protect our Great Lakes, create safer communities and
improve the health of all Michiganders.”
“For environmental organizations like Sierra Club that have
been doing this work for a long time, we are so thankful to have the MI Healthy
Climate plan,” said Tim Minotas, legislative and political
coordinator for Sierra Club Michigan. “So much effort has gone into
laying out these bold goals for our great state and more work remains in
implementing policies necessary to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We are
excited for this moment and what the future holds for Michigan.”
