Government

The U.S. government (1970 - 1980) produced the E.P.A. (1970), the Clean Water Act (1972),

the Endangered Species Act (1973), as well as the Superfund Law (1980).

I assumed similar legislative progress would continue during the next 50 years. I was wrong.

What happened?

See these pages: Corruption, Lobbying, Political Influence, Subsidies. Also: the Economics, and Psychology sections.

Popular opinion, and government functioning, can get in the way.

“Permitting is an expensive, tedious, and time-consuming process, sometimes stretching decades.

Developers often find there’s a lack of accountability between the local, state, and federal authorities.”

"Local governments are banning new utility-scale wind and solar power faster than they’re building it."

"Construction isn’t happening fast enough."

In the late 70’s, President Jimmy Carter wrote, “Oil and gas industry [influence] is unbelievable,

and it [seems] impossible to arouse the public.”

In 1986, President Reagan removed solar panels that Carter had put on the White House roof.

smoke-air-pollution-power-smoke-physical-structure-preview.jpg

In 1993, President Clinton (and others) tried for a tax on pollution (a Btu tax).

“The tax's defeat … revealed [our] political animosity … towards pollution taxes.”

In 1994, 34 Democrats lost re-election. Several blamed the unpopularity of the Btu tax for their loss.

In 2000, Al Gore (Inconvenient Truth) received the most votes, but ex-oilman G. W. Bush became our president.

In 2010, President Obama (and others) tried to reduce “global warming pollutants.” But organized polluters

won the day. The E.P.A. director criticized lobbyists who, “get paid ... money to say things that aren’t true.”

In Washington State two attempts (via electoral referendum) for an anti-pollution tax were defeated by voters.

In 2022, President Biden (and others) were able to pass the I.R.A.! For more on this, scroll further below.

In 2023, the S.E.C. proposed requiring big polluters to "disclose" how much they pollute.

Pressure from lobbyists caused the S.E.C. administration to back off.

A similar “disclose” law is being debated in California:

some "Democrats [have been] paying lip service … while refusing to take ... bold action."

Pollution-related government decisions frequently come from the judiciary, such as these two rulings:

The Supreme Court 'canceled' a law preventing government officials from accepting money from private organizations!

The Supremes said it’s ok for officials to accept “gratuities,” “as a token of appreciation.” Not a joke.

BUT it's only ok if the "gratuity" is delivered after the "official act"!

The Court ruled in favor of Chevron regarding government regulations.

Corporations will have

“greater freedom to pollute."

It puts “people’s lives in jeopardy” said a Republican ex-director of the E.P.A.

What about democratic governments across the globe? (re non-democratic nations, see the Human Rights page)

Like in the USA, voters and money play key roles.

Some democratic countries profit from selling fossil-fuels. Norway “continues to invest heavily in oil and gas.”

First-world governments have pledged billions to third-world nations for renewable infrastructure building,

and to help respond to weather calamities.

Some of the promised money hasn’t come through, and some has been delivered - to corrupt officials.

It takes money to quit pollution. “Governments worldwide are trying to figure out how to foot” the bill.

If the transition goes too quickly, what happens to those who depend on dirty fuels?

Sincere efforts are encountering such difficulties. An "eco-backlash" has become worldwide:

- In Ecuador, if gas prices rise, voters worry about fueling their cars, heating homes, & cooking food.

- "I am angry", said a mother in Nigeria, when petrol price supports were rescinded in her country.

- In Brazil, there's been much "criticism of [the] administration’s ... environmental stewardship."

- The government in "China called for increased coal production ... during a blistering heat wave."

- "Resistance to green policies has broken out across Europe."

- To read about the eco-backlash in each nation of Europe nation, click this link.

Former President of the EU Jean Claude Juncker:

"'We know the right thing to do, but we don’t know how to get re-elected if we’ve done it'.”

European voters have multiple concerns:

“I would say [pollution's] still a concern for a lot of people." "But it's not the top concern.”

While people “want action to be taken ... they do not want to bear significant costs ... themselves.”

The two strongest anti-pollution government actions of the 21st century involve voluntary behavior:

International -- the 2015 Paris C.O.P. accords; (voluntary, by country) brokered by the United Nations.

Domestic/USA -- the 2022 I.R.A.; (voluntary, by citizen or company) to partially reimburse private spending.