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Addressing climate change among top five agency goals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this month issued its 2014–2018 Strategic Plan, which it calls “a blueprint for advancing the EPA’s mission to protect public health and the environment across the country.”
The plan calls for a new era of partnerships with state and local governments, tribes, federal agencies, businesses, and industry leaders to achieve environmental benefits in a pragmatic, collaborative way.
“We are heeding President Obama’s call for action on climate change, the biggest challenge for our generation and those to come by building strong partnerships at home and around the world,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “We are working to mitigate this threat by reducing carbon pollution and other greenhouse-gas emissions and by focusing on efficiency improvements in homes, buildings, and appliances.”
Five strategic goals in the EPA’s plan include:
- addressing climate change and improving air quality.
- protecting U.S. waters.
- cleaning up communities and advancing sustainable development.
- ensuring the safety of chemicals and preventing pollution.
- protecting human health and the environment by enforcing laws and assuring compliance.
The 2014–2018 plan stated that the agency will “continue to deliver significant health benefits to the American public through improved air quality and reduced emissions of toxic pollutants, and … keep communities safe and healthy by reducing risks associated with exposure to toxic chemicals in commerce, our indoor and outdoor environments, products, and food.”
To achieve the outcomes articulated in the 2014-2018 plan, the EPA outlined four cross-agency strategies:
- working toward a sustainable future.
- working to make a visible difference in communities.
- launching a new era of state, tribal, local, and international partnerships.
- embracing EPA as a high-performing organization.
For more information:
www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan