The Environment and COVID-19
While the world is distracted serious damage is being done to environmental regulation
As of Friday, April 17, worldwide, more than 2.1 million people have tested positive for COVID-19, and almost 150,000 have died from the virus. In the U.S. 22 million people are unemployed, there is a lack of testing available, and many do not have healthcare, and even if they do, they may lose it if they lose their jobs.
While the country and the world are in crisis, we are seeing many examples of politicians rolling back environmental regulations even though such regulations are more important than ever.
For example, at the end of March, President Trump lowered standards for auto pollution regulations, which were created during President Obama’s time in office and played a major role in reducing the emissions of the U.S. The administration claimed its goal in lowering emissions standards was to make cars less expensive.
Elaine L. Chao, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation made a statement saying, “By making newer, safer, and cleaner vehicles more accessible for American families, more lives will be saved and more jobs will be created...”
This rationale has been disputed and criticized by many environmental organizations and the Environmental Protection Advisory Board.
The New York Times writes that the rule, “would allow cars on American roads to emit nearly a billion tons more carbon dioxide over the lifetime of the vehicles than they would have under the Obama standards...”
On Thursday, April 16th the Trump administration relaxed regulations on mercury and other toxic pollutants for oil and coal-fired power plants, despite the fact that mercury has been shown to cause brain damage.
A statement in the New York Times by Andrew R. Wheeler of the E.P.A. said, “Under this action, no more mercury will be emitted into the air than before.”
However environmental and public health leaders as well a huge number of power industry leaders decry the action as dangerous.
The article in the New York times goes on to say, “Patrick Parenteau, a professor at the Vermont Law School, noted that in virtually every environmental rollback, Mr. Trump’s E.P.A. has acknowledged in the fine print that enormous increases in health problems and deaths will occur because of increased pollution.”
There is a direct correlation between air pollution and many health issues including but not limited to asthma, cancer, heart disease, and birth defects. These underlying health conditions also make people more susceptible to complications from coronavirus.
If you are interested in engaging with environmental activism form home, this is a good time to call your representatives and ask them to support measures that ensure environmental protection, such as Carbon Fee and Dividend and The Green New Deal. This is also a good time to phone bank for candidates that support the Green New Deal who you can find on the Sunrise Movement page.
The Green New Deal is an evolving congressional resolution to combat Climate Change and reduce societal and economic inequities in the U.S.
If you are a part of the Bard Community we encourage you to join our Eco Challenge. This will allow you to hand-tailor your own environmental action plan and log your daily environmental actions to help Bard gain points. The Eco Challenge is a global competition between schools to engage students in actions relating to combating Climate Change. Additionally you can follow us on Facebook at Bard Office of Sustainability to keep up to date on all our activities.
From all of us at the Bard Office of Sustainability, stay healthy and keep fighting the good fight.
By Rose Reiner
Class of 2023
And Ella McGrail
Class of 2021
