Today is Earth Day.
In our relatively short lifespans, many of us have witnessed significant changes to this glorious planet. The climate is less temperate, with bigger and more frequent “mood swings,” from hurricanes to wildfires, droughts to floods.
A thinning ozone means we sunburn more easily and marine life is disappearing.
Because we know mankind plays a role in these changes and that for the past four years the United States has denied any responsibility, it’s heartening to know that President Joe Biden has accepted the mantle, determined to reverse course. On Day One of his administration, Biden re-pledged the United States’ commitment to the Paris Climate Accord’s goals to reduce planet-warming emissions.
Today, Biden is expected to announce a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 from that produced in 2005, when U.S. carbon emissions peaked.
Biden’s goal is double that of President Barack Obama, who pledged a 25% reduction by 2025.
BIG BUSINESS is behind Biden.
Last week, more than 300 businesses, including Walmart, Apple and McDonald’s, signed a letter encouraging the president to aim for the ambitious goal.
“A bold 2030 target is needed to catalyze a zero-emissions future, spur a robust economic recovery, create millions of well-paying jobs, and allow the U.S. to ‘build back better’ from the pandemic,” the letter said, echoing the president’s economic recovery slogan.
The 50% target is what the National Academies of Science say is necessary to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
IN THE PREVIOUS four years, the United States fell off the environmental bandwagon.
By 2017, the last year of Obama’s eight-year tenure, carbon emissions had fallen by 14% from 2005.
The administration of Donald Trump set no environmental targets whatsoever.
Today, emission levels are down 13% from 2005.
The lost progress is significant.
During the Trump administration, more than 100 environmental rules and regulations were either relaxed or erased. In May 2020, carbon dioxide emissions reached 417 parts per million, the highest level recorded in human history.
Because greenhouse pollution accumulates in the atmosphere where it remains for decades, the consequences of Trump’s disregard for the environment will be far-reaching.
Consistency is key to effectively making a difference.
