Making science work for environmental public health policy: Revisiting sustainable development imperatives for clean air and safe energy

Traditionally, public health protection has not been one of the core objectives of national energy policy. To date, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) is the only environmental policy based solely on protection of the public's health. The political support that permitted such a policy was instrumental in achieving past successes. Casting air quality and energy in light of sustainable development imperatives, could (1) affirm the role science plays in energy policy-making, and (2) make the business case for sound economic growth in ways that are consistent with disease prevention. This presentation will examine the history of U.S. energy policy and the extent to which it has impacted our Nation's environmental public health. Central to the discussion will be a policy framework that embraces the precautionary principle to assure public health protection. This presentation also aims to explore more responsive ways sustainable development imperatives should be reflected in energy policy and to articulate the value this will bring to environmental public health.