An organization representing student environmental groups across the Commonwealth has called on Senators to reject President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the EPA.
Tyler Hill with the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition, a network of students from 22 high school, college and university campuses, says Trump’s pick of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt “actively misleads the public” through an anti-climate change viewpoint.
According to The New York Times, Pruitt, originally from Danville, Kentucky, has sued the EPA several times and has “formed alliances with private sector players that share his views.”
Hill says it’s imperative that the younger generation voice their dissent against Pruitt.
“It’s going to be a really challenge for people when sea levels rise and climate changes due to our anthropogenic climate emissions so opposing this appointment is absolutely vital for ensuring the good health and wellbeing of people not just in Kentucky not just in the United States, but across the world," said Hill.
Hill says adopting those viewpoints changes the nation and the world, and young people have the most to lose.
“They understand that what happens today is going to affect them for the rest of their lives so climate which is going to change over the next 100 or so years, it’s going to be the main driver of economic and societal turmoil, it’s of vital importance to young people and students," said Hill.
Hill says Pruitt’s Senate confirmation in the Committee for Environment and Public Works will include a public comment period.
During that time, KSEC and other environmental group plan to rally on campuses and place mass calls to Senate offices to protest the choice.
