Historical Summary
The United States has a complex and varied history when it comes to environmental thought and policy. The early American colonists viewed the land and its resources as something to be conquered and exploited for personal gain. (Russell, E., & Fairfax, S. K. , 2014) This exploitative attitude towards the environment continued through the Industrial Revolution and into the 20th century. However, there have been several key moments in American history that have shifted this attitude towards the environment.
In the mid-19th century, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and other transcendentalists began to promote a more holistic view of the environment, seeing it as interconnected and valuable in its own right. ( Theis, T., & Tomkin, J. (Eds)., 2018) This thinking inspired the conservation movement in the late 19th century, led by figures such as John Muir and Gifford Pinchot, who sought to preserve the country's natural resources for future generations.
Theodore Roosevelt, who served as President from 1901 to 1909, was a major proponent of conservation and used his executive powers to create national parks, wildlife refuges, and national forests. The creation of the National Park Service in 1916 was a major milestone in American conservation history.
In the 1960s, concerns over pollution and the environment began to take center stage. Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring, published in 1962, brought attention to the negative impacts of pesticides and inspired the modern environmental movement. (Russell, E., & Fairfax, S. K. , 2014) In response to growing public concern, the federal government passed several major environmental laws in the 1970s, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act.
The 1980s saw a shift in environmental thinking towards market-based solutions, with the introduction of emissions trading and other market-based mechanisms for addressing pollution. The 1990s saw a continued focus on environmental protection, with the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary emissions reduction program.
In the early 21st century, climate change has become an increasingly pressing issue, with cities and states taking action to address the issue even as the federal government has become less proactive on environmental issues. Despite these challenges, there is still significant momentum behind efforts to protect the environment and address the impacts of climate change.
Hello Katie,
ReplyDeleteThe environmental policy that I will be focusing on is The Trump Administration rolling back over 100 Environmental Rules.
After President Trumps term ended, President Biden took place in office and has made an effort to correct (in some cases over correct) for the policy's the previous President had removed. Just a year after President Trumps final year as president, President Biden began the Build Back Better plan into effect year 2021. It came into effect not to long after it was already stalled in Congress for a long while. This is on top of the Inflation Reduction act which also helps conserve the environment that came out 2022. The Build Back better plan pumped 26 Million Dollars back into the conservation and restoration of forests and Public Lands. This combined with the 23 million given to agricultural preservation gave 49 million dollars to restore and conserve our nations environment.
This change has the potential to keep agriculture in the United States not only safe but also expanding. The protection of the environment and the locations such as national parks is very important for country's well being. Regardless of all the touristy opportunities, protecting the national parks keeps the United States biodiversity intact and any effort to divert money away from foundation that protect biodiversity should be stopped. The only change that I would might have had a greater impact is one that changes the way farmers go about getting their income. If farmers have a greater incentive to be farmers, more people would join the industry. At the very least I am sure that the 23 million given the agricultural preservation is going to help keep rare plants protected.
I learned about this change form:
The World Resource Institute, "Tracking Progress: Climate Action Under the Biden Administration", Accessed 4/17/2023
https://www.wri.org/insights/biden-administration-tracking-climate-action-progress
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI will be focusing on the creation of national parks, wildlife refuges, and national forests under Theodore Roosevelt's presidency.
This policy really indicated a change towards the conservation and preservation of natural resources in united states. Before this, the way that people or companies acted towards the environment was mainly of exploitation of resources for personal benefit.
Lately in the recent years, the executive power has continued to take action to protect OUR natural resources and promote conservation, for example, President Joe Biden emitted a new executive order in January 2021, to pause new oil and gas leases in federal lands and waters, with the main objective of revising and reinforcing the government leases and permits. One of the main objectives of this executive order is to promote the conservation and reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases derived from the extraction of fossil fuels. Also, the Biden administration “directed the Department of the Interior to conserve 30% of the nation's land and waters by the 2030 and to identify ways to double offshore wind production by that same deadline.” (“NPR”) which would imply protecting and restoring important ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
The effectiveness of these environmental policies, as I mentioned on the previous activity (4.1) depend on many factors, such as the application of these policies, the cooperation of the interested parties, and the agreement and enforcement of environmental laws.
When it comes to the Biden policy mentioned above, I think it could contribute to the protection and restoration of important wildlife environments and habitats, which could have benefits for biodiversity and air and water quality.
However, the effectiveness of these policies mainly relies on the cooperation and compliance of the interested parties, including regular and sustainable energy companies and our States and municipalities that have jurisdiction over land and water. Also, the implementation of effective laws will require the right mehotds and resources and a sustained, long-term commitment by government and society in general.
Work where I learned about this:
“NPR Cookie Consent and Choices.” Npr.org, 2021, www.npr.org/sections/president-biden-takes-office/2021/01/27/960941799/biden-to-pause-oil-and-gas-leasing-on-public-lands-and-waters. In-text citation: (“NPR”)
National Park Service. “Theodore Roosevelt and Conservation.” Nps.gov, 2016, www.nps.gov/thro/learn/historyculture/theodore-roosevelt-and-conservation.htm.
Hi Katie, I will be focusing on the Trump Administration's environmental policy.
ReplyDeleteWhen Donald Trumps' presidential term ended, our current president, Joe Biden Biden was elected and has attempted to resolve the previous policies that former president Trump had removed. A year after Trumps' last term, President Biden executed a plan called the Build Back Better Plan in 2021. It was carried out shortly after it was impeded in Congress for quite some time. This plan is above the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which aids in preserving the well-being of the environment. The Build Back Better plan donated 26 million dollars to help protect, conserve, and restore forests and public lands. Another 23 million dollars was donated to agricultural preservation and 49 million dollars was donated to reconstruct and preserve the environment of the nation.
These plans and acts have the power to sustain agricultural crops, protect the land, and allow the industry to continue producing and expanding. The well-being of our environment is important and should be one of our top priorities as a country. Besides as tour attractions, protecting the national parks sustains the United States' biodiversity and any effort to prevent money from supporting it should be removed. One change that can have a greater impact on is the way farmers and agriculturalists are treated economically. If farmers receive more respect, credit, and pay, more people would become apart of the industry. For now, we can take comfort in the fact that the 23 million given to the agricultural preservation is going to help keep crops and plants protected.
I learned this information from:
The World Resource Institute, "Tracking Progress: Climate Action Under the Biden Administration", Accessed 4/17/2023
https://www.wri.org/insights/biden-administration-tracking-climate-action-progress