Donald Trump's election has spelled possible future disaster for many groups both in and out of the United States. Unfortunately, he is a walking ticking time bomb for the environment which directly effects everyone on the planet. There are hundreds, and maybe even thousands of ways Donald Trump could destroy what little we have left of our environment but here are seven of the biggest threats he poses to our environment. One way is by breaking the Paris Agreement, which he has already publicly said he will do. This means that not only the US, one of the largest green house gas emitters in the world, will go unregulated, but that the rest of the world will suffer from our blatant idiocy. The second way he poses a threat to the environment is by killing the Clean Power Plan. Again, Trump has publicly stated that he plans on pursuing this which would leave the U.S. producing unregulated amount of carbon emitted. The third way Donald Trump poses a threat to the environment is by eliminating the Environmental Protection Agency. This one really does not need explaining as one can understand the effects just by the phrase "eliminating the Environmental Protection Agency." Although legally it would be almost impossible for him to completely eliminate it, he could reduce their power by putting them into more of an advisory role. The fourth way he poses a threat is by hiring climate change deniers to positions of power. A prime example is the notorious climate change denier Myron Ebell who is now the chair of the EPA and the Department f Energy. The fifth way he poses a threat to our environment is by cutting funding towards clean energy. The world is calling for a move to clean energy but Donald Trump may hush them. The sixth way Trump poses a threat to the environment is by unregulating methane emissions. Considering carbon emissions is on the decline in the U.S., although that may change with a Trump presidency, methane is the next top green house gas contributing to global warming and is on the incline in the U.S. The seventh way Donald Trump could destroy the environment is by allowing fracking on federal lands, ala Sarah Palin.
It is unfortunate and devastating that as the world started to become aware of the massive threat global warming poses, we take a giant leap backwards by electing Donald Trump as our president. That is all I have to say.
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Environmentalist groups agree on the majority of aspects regarding the preservation of our environment but carbon taxes remains an area where they are divided. In the state of Washington, initiative 732 will hit the ballot in December. It will raise prices from $15 to $100 per metric ton by the half-century. Many argue that although it does address a big problem in Washington, it will further the distance of inequity from low income families. One of the biggest problems in with environmental groups is that they usually project to desire of a well-off white person rather than low income families in which pollution affects the most. Opposers of I-732 claim that it does not take a big enough step towards reducing carbon emissions nor does it address low income communities. Those in favor claim it is a step in the right direction and that flaws can be worked out later. Carbon taxes are a tricky subject but ultimately I think it is vital for there to be one nation wide. This carbon tax needs to put an impactful carbon tax that forces the nation out of using carbon as an energy source. This carbon tax also then needs to use taxpayers money to transfer the country to renewable resources. It also must not be manipulated in a way where these huge corporations do not use this as an excuse for massive tax breaks. Finally, this carbon tax needs to invest in those most affected by carbon emissions (hint: not the coal or fossil fuel industry). Unfortunately, this is incredibly difficult as a large portion of those in congress are endorsed by the carbon industry. It will take the uniting of everyone in order to put pressure on these multi-billion dollar corporations and politicians. It support I-732 but I do not see it as a solution. I see it as a starting point from which we can strive towards perfection where we faze out carbon use quickly and effectively without hurting low income communities. I hope this also can spark a nationwide carbon tax. |
Alex Garcia-Environmentalist Archives
December 2016
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