Environment Is Environment Getting Better or Worse Improvements

Environment

Is Environment Getting Better or Worse? • Improvements in local and national air and water quality in US and other developed countries. • But other problems worsening: over fishing, deforestation, global warming, etc.

Global Warming • CO 2 and other gasses form “greenhouse effect”

Consequences - raising sea levels, causing droughts and storms, and disrupting ecosystems, crop productivity, ocean acidification - self-sustaining processes: - melting polar ice-caps cool less and reflect less light/heat - thawing permafrost releases more g. h. gasses

Kyoto • 1997 Kyoto Protocols, formally in effect since 2004 - U. S. and other developed countries were to reduce g. h. gasses below 1990 levels by 2012 • 1997 -’ 01 Senate fails to ratify the treaty • 2001 Bush dismisses Kyoto Protocols • cites insufficient evidence, too great costs • Developing countries, like China and India exempted

California jumps in • “pavley law” • 30% reduction of car GHG by 2016 • Detroit and Bush attack in court • • http: //www. pbs. org/now/science/caautoemissions 2. html# http: //www. pbs. org/newshour/bb/environment/jan-june 05/california_3 -28. html#

Efficiency: The Rise and Fall of CAFÉ • Corporate Average Fuel Economy--passed by Congress in 1975, after “oil crisis” • Required manufacturers to double car fuel efficiency to 27 mpg • saved billions of gallons of gas • Decreasing fuel efficiency since ‘ 87 - “Light truck loophole” - Static CAFÉ standards

Should We Raise CAFÉ standards? • Yes • But, this is not the best solution--“rebound effects: ” - fuel efficiency creates incentive to drive more - more expensive fuel efficient cars creates incentive to hold on to older, less efficient and more polluting, cars longer • Better answer: increase gas tax - generates revenue, incentives to drive less, manufacturers to innovate, compact development, etc. • But politically unpopular/dangerous

Other landmark legislation • Clean Water Act 1972 • EPA working with state and local bodies set limits on effluents and wetlands destruction • Bush admin—Congress can only regulate “navigable waterways” • Endangered Species Act 1973 • Forbids hunting and habitat destruction for “endangered species” • Pombo bill—compensating landowners for restricted development