The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled its Clean Power Plan this year, the most significant policy to date for addressing carbon pollution from power plants, the primary cause of climate change in the U.S.

Climate change affects different communities in different ways, some more significantly than others. Tribal communities know the impacts more significantly than most.

That is why the EPA hearing in Phoenix this week, regarding the supplemental proposal to the Clean Power Plan addressing carbon pollution from affected power plants in Indian Country and U.S. territories, was so important.

Tribes have already experienced significant negative effects of climate change, both from extreme weather and, particularly, health impacts.