In response to President Trump’s executive order to keep coal-fired power plants open, Ashfaq Khalfan, Oxfam America’s Climate Justice Director, said:
“Forcing America’s power grid to continue relying on coal is a reckless and shortsighted attempt to line the pocketbooks of billionaires and fossil fuel companies for short-term political gain at the expense of long-term public health and safety. Keeping coal plants running means more pollution, more climate-fueled disasters, and fewer resources for cleaner, cheaper energy that would protect frontline communities and save lives.
“This plan only serves as a handout to billionaires and electric utility executives and investors —and also gives polluting fossil fuel companies a free pass to ignore environmental safeguards and standards. The administration’s actions sabotage the transition to clean energy, which is already creating jobs and cutting costs for ordinary Americans while reducing emissions worldwide.
“Oxfam remains committed to fighting for bold, equitable climate action and holding policymakers accountable for the U.S.’s global responsibility as the largest historical polluter. More fossil fuels are not the answer. The US must prioritize clean energy, strengthen global climate commitments, and support countries around the world in a just transition.”
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Oxfam is a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice. We offer lifesaving support in times of crisis and advocate for economic justice, gender equality, and climate action. We demand equal rights and equal treatment so that everyone can thrive, not just survive. The future is equal. Join us at oxfamamerica.org.
