(July 24, 2015)—

***MEDIA ADVISORY*** JULY 28 TELEBRIEFING

HEALTH AND CLIMATE EXPERTS TO HOLD TELEBRIEFING AHEAD OF EXPECTED CLEAN POWER PLAN FINALIZATION

WHAT: Last month, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, told health leaders gathered at the first-ever White House Summit on Climate Change and Health that climate change poses a "serious, immediate and global threat to human health," urging that it is "well past time" to take action. The finalization of the Clean Power Plan would mark a critical step forward in protecting Americans' health from the impacts of climate change and the burden of power plant pollution as the first federal plan to reduce carbon pollution from power plants.

Ahead of the finalization by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Obama Administration, experts from the American Lung Association, National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the National Association of Hispanic Nurses and The Lancet Commission, will hold a media telebriefing on Tuesday, July 28, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. They will discuss and are available for public comment on:

• The latest research reaffirming that steps to reduce carbon pollution from power plants and other sources can benefit health as soon as they are put in place, and continue to provide benefits going forward;
• The disproportionate impact of carbon pollution and climate change on vulnerable populations, including minority communities; and,
• The need for strong and timely implementation of the Clean Power Plan at the state level.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 28, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time

WHO:

• Harold P. Wimmer, National President and CEO, American Lung Association
• Joseph P. Iser, MD, DrPH, MSc, Chief Health Officer, Southern Nevada Health District (Las Vegas, NV), and Member of Board of Directors, NACCHO (National Association of County and City Health Officials)
• Adelita Cantu, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Family and Community Health Systems (San Antonio, TX), and Member, National Association of Hispanic Nurse's Policy Committee
• Nick Watts, MA, Head of Project, 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change
• Lyndsay Moseley Alexander, Assistant Vice President and Director of the Healthy Air Campaign, American Lung Association

HOW: For call-in information for the telebriefing, or if you would like to speak with an expert resource, please contact Michelle Blundell (Email: mblundell@mrss.com, Phone: 202-478-6176), Alexa Shaffer (Email: ashaffer@mrss.com, Phone: 202-478-6148), or Allison MacMunn (Email: Media@Lung.org, Phone: 312-801-7628).

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About the American Lung Association The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases.  For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.