In 2016, the cost of implementing clean energy, such as wind, solar and geothermal energy, began to rival that of fossil-fuels, combating the idea that clean energy measures are not cost-effective.
Cost reductions and installations of clean energy were prevalent in the United States and around the world throughout the year. The U.S., China and other countries also ratified the Paris Agreement, an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which deals with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation.
The global community began to combat the effects of man-made pollution, and it was a tremendous relief.
Environmental advocates face a far different reality in 2017. Less than a few days into his presidency, Donald Trump’s administration instructed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to freeze its grants and contracts, which impacts everything from research on climate change to localized effects to improve air and water quality and environmental justice projects aimed at helping the poor.
This was followed by a ban placed on the EPA that stated all data compiled by the organization must be reviewed and approved by political staff before being released to the public — in essence, government-mandated censorship on climate change data, among other findings from other studies.
The most frustrating part about this is that environmental protection goes beyond the idea of climate change. It’s not a matter of whether someone believes in climate change or not. It’s a matter of understanding that regardless of what’s happening to our weather cycles, there is no debate that carbon emissions have risen steadily in the past decade, and humans are actively producing pollutants that negatively impact the environment and global ecosystems.
While most pleas for the public to move toward more environmentally sustainable practices, like mine, are steeped in emotional appeal, at the end of the day, the stark reality that humans face is simple: human beings will not exist without this planet. No other political stance should take precedence over protecting and cleaning up the environment. When the environment dies, so do we. The argument that space exploration, that final frontier, will be humanity’s saving grace is contrived — it ignores the reality that unless some significant action to detoxify the planet is taken, humans will create an inhospitable environment far faster than they will discover a way to colonize Mars.
While the regulations already being applied to the EPA are terrifying, and make it clear that the current president does not care about the environment or the scientific community, it’s important that environmental advocates don’t lose hope, and that people who have been previously apathetic to the plight of the planet start to step up. There are so many things students and community members can do to minimize their contributions to environmental pollution.
Walk when driving isn’t an absolute necessity. Call people out for littering. Bring reusable bags when shopping, or choose paper over plastic —paper bags can be recycled, plastic bags cannot. Take 20 minutes out of the week to recycle, either on-campus or at the Moscow Recycling Center.
Say no to bottled water, straws and plastic cutlery. Invest in clothing made of plastic-free fibers, such as hemp, cotton, silk and wool. Cook from scratch and invest in locally-grown produce and livestock products. Launch internet investigations to learn which companies uphold sustainable environmental practices and which do not.
These acts are small, but they will make a big difference.
When I first decided to become a vegetarian, my loved ones often argued that my actions were insignificant — that I, alone, would not dismantle the industrialized agriculture industry through a lack of patronage. This was clear to me. No one person has the power to initiate social change. The actions of several people compounded over time, however, are a different story. While the industrialized meat industry wasn’t hurt in any way by my decision to stop supporting them, there was still value in taking a stance against something I vehemently opposed.
I’m a vegetarian, but I support the consumption of meat under the condition that the animal being consumed was treated with respect and decency, and the workers who produced that meat were paid living wages. Not eating meat isn’t fun. I miss carne asada and how easy it was to eat out at restaurants, but standing up for one’s beliefs isn’t always going to be easy.
Minimizing plastic use by investing in better Tupperware, bringing reusable bags to the store and packing a fork from home rather than using plastic cutlery isn’t necessarily convenient. Washing out and sorting through recyclables and taking them to the nearest recycling facility takes time. Leading by example and encouraging a cultural shift toward environmental sustainability will not be easy, but it is important.
If more individuals make an effort to incorporate more sustainable practices into their lives, these small changes will compound over time, and every small step will help the planet heal.
Corrin Bond can be reached at [email protected]