A Clear Choice for the Planet

Guest Opinion

By Karen Mulvahill | July 20, 2024

Ralph believes the earth is flat. Jen thinks the moon landing was faked. Bob thinks contraception should be illegal. Amara thinks abortion is a woman’s right. Frank believes that people kill people, not guns. Rashi doesn’t understand why anyone needs an AR-15.

You might think these people have nothing in common. But despite their diverse beliefs, they all need a healthy planet for their well-being and that of their children.

There are many important issues upon which our two major political parties differ. But is there any issue more important than the survival of our home planet? The contrast between the two parties’ environmental actions could hardly be more extreme.

Within the first six months of his presidency, Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, signed by nearly 200 other countries. This signaled his administration’s disdain for environmental protection. Over four years, the Trump administration “weakened or wiped out more than 125 rules and policies aimed at protecting the nation’s air, water and land” (Washington Post).

In the long run, these actions hastened climate change. In the short run, they endangered the health and safety of the public. Following are some examples of the Trump administration actions:

Increased Air Pollution: Increased the amounts of pollutants permitted by power plants, including mercury. Mercury is especially dangerous for young children and developing fetuses. Allowed oil and gas companies to release more methane into the atmosphere. Methane traps heat in the atmosphere and is a major contributor to climate change. Lifted a summertime ban on the use of E15, a gasoline blend made of 15 percent ethanol that increases smog in hot conditions.

It is estimated that these and other air pollution-increasing actions would result in thousands of premature deaths, cancer, and birth defects.

Increased Water Pollution: Revoked an Obama Executive Order protecting ocean and Great Lakes waters. Increased the time allowed for replacement of lead pipes in water systems. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the Michigan pediatrician whose research exposed the Flint water crisis, called the new rule “heartbreaking.” Rescinded water pollution regulations for fracking on federal and Native lands.

Other Health and Safety Impacts: Rejected a proposed ban on chlorpyrifos, a pesticide that damages children’s brains. Allowed highly flammable liquefied natural gas to be transported by rail, while eliminating braking system upgrades for trains hauling flammable liquids. Loosened offshore drilling safety regulations. 

In contrast, on his first day in office, President Joe Biden signed the Paris Climate Agreement, signaling his administration’s support of environmental protection. So far, his administration has overturned 98 of the Trump administration’s attacks on the environment and enacted an additional 103 protective measures (Washington Post). Some examples follow:

Protected Air Quality: Created a Methane Emissions Reduction Program. Required power plants to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Required coal plants to reduce mercury and other toxic emissions.

Protected Water Quality: Allocated $1 billion in funding to clean and restore environmentally degraded sites around the Great Lakes, a major source of drinking water in the region. Limited the levels of toxic metals in coal plants’ wastewater. Accelerated the removal of lead pipes in water systems.

Other Health and Safety Impacts: Banned methylene chloride, a known carcinogenic. Banned chrysotile asbestos, responsible for 40,000 deaths/year. Proposed health advisories for PFAS in drinking water.

It seems as if the only objections to these rules would be from the polluters themselves. And before you buy into the argument that we need to support them for the good of the economy, consider just one big polluting industry—oil and gas. Exxon/Mobil, Shell, and Chevron reported 2023 profits of $31, $28, and $21 billion, respectively.

The earth and her people cannot afford another four years of purposeful destruction for the benefit of big business. Make no mistake, that is what we are in for if Trump is elected. This is the guy who said wind farms cause cancer. (False, by the way).

“He [Trump] has railed against Biden’s climate policies at rallies and derided clean energy, vowing to push America back to fossil fuels.” ("What’s at Stake for the Climate if Trump Wins: ‘a catastrophic outcome’", Ella Nilsen, CNN, July 3, 2024)

Since protecting the earth is essential to the survival of our species, your choice in November is clear. Never mind that one guy is old and the other is a convicted felon (and old). Their administrations’ policies have been strongly supported by their respective parties. The Republican party platform makes no mention of the environment. The Democratic party platform calls for addressing climate change, reducing pollution, and building a clean energy economy.

Don’t all of our other differences become moot if our children are born with birth defects, our homes are sinking under rising waters, summer heat waves become killers, or our drinking water gives us cancer?

Let’s all rally around the most important issue in November. Vote for Earth.

Karen Mulvahill is a writer living in northern Michigan.