The future of the environmental movement
Lead Summary
By
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By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist
Some mark the beginning of modern environmental movement with the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in September 1962. Others cite the conservation movement started by President Teddy Roosevelt nearly 120 years ago.
I choose a different date, call it a rising of environmental awareness in the late 1980s, marked by a rapid rise in landfill tipping fees.
It was the latter, nothing earlier, that hit the average citizen in the pocketbook and extended a heightened awareness of what we do with our trash to all – whether in the city or a rural location.
Along about the same time, perhaps a bit earlier, scientists had switched their view of the future from global cooling to global warming. I have long railed against what seems to be poor science, or at least sloppy science, when it comes to predicting future temperatures. That does not mean I believe we should be lackadaisical about our care of the planet. It just means I want to be assured we are getting it right.
I am still not convinced that we are.
However, a couple of things are appearing on the horizon that may indicate we have lost interest in the environment or that we will have to change our thinking about it.
The first is China’s rumored coming rules that they will stop accepting recycled paper, perhaps as early as the end of this year. It is further predicted they will stop receiving all recycled items by 2020. Recycled paper markets have already been roiled by stringent new Chinese rules that went into effect this past spring. If this important market completely dries up, the economics behind collection, and there must be economics, otherwise the system doesn’t work, will experience a major upheaval.
The second thing that is happening was predictable. People are simply tired of the talk of the environment and want to move on. This has happened time and again throughout history regarding various subjects, and the due date for boredom to set in regarding our environmental concerns has apparently arrived.
In Gallup polls done throughout this year in the United States, an open-ended question is asked, “What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?” The answers are broken into “Economic Problems” and “Non-Economic Problems.”
Under “Economic Problems” neither the environment or global warming shows up. Under “Non-Economic Problems” “Environment/Pollution” is 12th on a list of 36.
However, it is low enough that it registers with less than 2 percent of the respondents. It has never ranked higher than being of concern to more than 3 percent of the respondents anytime this year This is as compared to the top winners: "Immigration/Illegal aliens” (22 percent) and “Dissatisfaction with the government/Poor leadership” (19 percent).
Global warming is not on the list at all. Number 36 is “Energy/Lack of Energy Sources” following right after number 35, “Situation in Syria,” which barely make the list with less than 1 percent of the respondents citing them.
Again, global warming never makes the list.
To me, this is astounding. “Energy/Lack of Energy Sources” has been a front burner issue for my entire career. So has the environment. For these issues to fall so low, indicates a complete turnaround from the last 45 years. Expect impassioned advocates to move to bring this issue back to the front burner.
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.
HCP columnist
Some mark the beginning of modern environmental movement with the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in September 1962. Others cite the conservation movement started by President Teddy Roosevelt nearly 120 years ago.
I choose a different date, call it a rising of environmental awareness in the late 1980s, marked by a rapid rise in landfill tipping fees.
It was the latter, nothing earlier, that hit the average citizen in the pocketbook and extended a heightened awareness of what we do with our trash to all – whether in the city or a rural location.
Along about the same time, perhaps a bit earlier, scientists had switched their view of the future from global cooling to global warming. I have long railed against what seems to be poor science, or at least sloppy science, when it comes to predicting future temperatures. That does not mean I believe we should be lackadaisical about our care of the planet. It just means I want to be assured we are getting it right.
I am still not convinced that we are.
However, a couple of things are appearing on the horizon that may indicate we have lost interest in the environment or that we will have to change our thinking about it.
The first is China’s rumored coming rules that they will stop accepting recycled paper, perhaps as early as the end of this year. It is further predicted they will stop receiving all recycled items by 2020. Recycled paper markets have already been roiled by stringent new Chinese rules that went into effect this past spring. If this important market completely dries up, the economics behind collection, and there must be economics, otherwise the system doesn’t work, will experience a major upheaval.
The second thing that is happening was predictable. People are simply tired of the talk of the environment and want to move on. This has happened time and again throughout history regarding various subjects, and the due date for boredom to set in regarding our environmental concerns has apparently arrived.
In Gallup polls done throughout this year in the United States, an open-ended question is asked, “What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?” The answers are broken into “Economic Problems” and “Non-Economic Problems.”
Under “Economic Problems” neither the environment or global warming shows up. Under “Non-Economic Problems” “Environment/Pollution” is 12th on a list of 36.
However, it is low enough that it registers with less than 2 percent of the respondents. It has never ranked higher than being of concern to more than 3 percent of the respondents anytime this year This is as compared to the top winners: "Immigration/Illegal aliens” (22 percent) and “Dissatisfaction with the government/Poor leadership” (19 percent).
Global warming is not on the list at all. Number 36 is “Energy/Lack of Energy Sources” following right after number 35, “Situation in Syria,” which barely make the list with less than 1 percent of the respondents citing them.
Again, global warming never makes the list.
To me, this is astounding. “Energy/Lack of Energy Sources” has been a front burner issue for my entire career. So has the environment. For these issues to fall so low, indicates a complete turnaround from the last 45 years. Expect impassioned advocates to move to bring this issue back to the front burner.
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.