Think Green Live Clean

Graphic Credit: Christian Guthier

Last December, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the findings of its investigation on the harmful effects of greenhouse gases.  Greenhouse gases not only drive the climate change we are experiencing which is causing freak weather and the endangerment of the few all natural habitats left in the earth, but, more close to home, the EPA found that the climate change that greenhouse gases drive can cause heat waves that are a danger to people prone to strokes and the ground-level ozone pollution can be linked to respiratory illness.

With this endangerment report in mind, the EPA looks to pass some environmental legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  “These long-overdue findings cement 2009’s place in history as the year when the United States Government began addressing the challenge of greenhouse-gas pollution and seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. This report could provide enormous evidence for future clean energy reform, thus improving the quality of life of people in the U.S. and doing our part to help preserve the one Earth that we have for future generations.

However, the EPA has been receiving recent criticism for their efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.  In February, the state of Texas was the first to challenge the endangerment findings, due to the fact that environmental reform could have an impact on the Texas economy. The state of Virginia joins Texas in its questioning of the EPA’s report on greenhouse gases, along with other conservative organizations like Americans for Prosperity, agreeing with the popular argument repeated by Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul.  “Their agenda is capitalism, not pollution.”

Apparently, Rand Paul’s agenda is the same.  Capitalism may suffer, but the long term benefits of environmental legislation include the end of dependence on oil, an un-renewable fossil fuel, a reduction in the effects of global climate change, a cleaner and healthier environment for all, and an increased awareness and greater demand for clean, energy efficient technology. People and governments alike should not be tearing environmental legislation down, especially if that state leads the country in greenhouse gas emissions (ahem, Texas).

To read the full NY Times article, click here.