As a society, we’ve made some pretty big strides towards environmental awareness and protection. We recycle, use reusable bags, and opt for hybrid cars instead of gas-guzzlers. But when it comes to actual policy changes that make a difference? Let’s just say we still have a long way to go.
Before I dive into the nitty-gritty of environmental policy in the United States, let me first preface this by saying: I am not an expert. (Shocking, I know.) But what I lack in expertise, I make up for in enthusiasm and snarky commentary.
So let’s talk about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), shall we? The EPA was formed back in 1970 with the goal of protecting human health and the environment. Which sounds great! Until you realize that its current leader is Scott Pruitt – a man who has sued the EPA multiple times during his tenure as Oklahoma Attorney General and who once said he would eliminate it altogether if given the chance. So…not exactly off to a great start.
But even before Pruitt took over as head honcho at the EPA, there were issues with how effective they were at actually protecting our environment. Take their handling of Flint’s water crisis, for example. It wasn’t until 2016 – two years after lead contamination was discovered in Flint’s water supply – that then-EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy admitted they had failed to properly oversee Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality and prevent this disaster from happening in the first place.
And while we’re on the topic of disasters: climate change is kind of a big one. Yet despite overwhelming scientific evidence that humans are causing global warming through greenhouse gas emissions, our government has been slow to take action (to put it mildly). In fact, President Trump recently announced plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement – an international agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions – because apparently “it disadvantages American workers and taxpayers.”
But hey, at least the current administration is making progress in other areas of environmental policy! Like…um…rolling back regulations on coal plants so they can dump toxic waste into our waterways again. And allowing hunters to kill hibernating bears and their cubs on national wildlife refuges. Truly groundbreaking stuff.
Okay, okay, I’ll stop being cynical for a second here. There are some positive things happening in the world of environmental policy – just not at the federal level in the United States. California has set some pretty ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2045. Other states like New York and Hawaii have also made commitments to using more clean energy.
And let’s not forget about international efforts to combat climate change. While Trump may be pulling out of the Paris Agreement, other countries are still committed to reducing their carbon footprints and working towards a more sustainable future. (Side note: if you’re ever feeling down about humanity’s ability to save ourselves from impending doom, watch this video of dozens of countries signing onto the Paris Agreement.)
So what can we do as individuals? Obviously voting is important (please go vote), but there are also plenty of small changes we can make in our daily lives that add up over time. Use public transportation or carpool instead of driving alone; eat less meat (or cut it out altogether) since animal agriculture is a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions; buy products with minimal packaging or opt for reusable alternatives when possible.
And while these individual actions may seem insignificant compared to larger-scale policy changes, I truly believe they matter – both because they reduce our own personal impact on the environment and because they demonstrate that people care about this issue enough to make changes in their own lives.
In conclusion: yeah, environmental policy kind of sucks right now. But don’t lose hope! We’ve come a long way since the days of rampant air pollution and leaded gasoline, and we can continue to make progress if we keep pushing for change. Plus, I hear solar panels are getting pretty affordable these days…