Environmental issues in the United States

As with many other countries there are a number of environmental issues in the United States. Topical issues include the Arctic Refuge drilling controversy and the Bush Administration stance on climate change.

Issues

Climate change

The United States is the second largest emitter, after China, of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. [cite web| author= Vidal, John, and David Adam| title=China Overtakes US as World's Biggest CO2 Emitter | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/jun/19/china.usnews | date=2007-06-19 | accessdate=2007-06-27|work=Guardian] The energy policy of the United States is widely debated; some call on the country to take a leading role in fighting global warming. [cite web | title=U.S. Faces International Pressure on Climate Change Policy | url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/july-dec05/climate_7-5.html | date=2005-07-05 | accessdate=2007-05-05| publisher=PBS |work=Online NewsHour] The U.S. is one of three countries that has not signed up to the Kyoto Protocol.

Conservation

Many plant and animal species became extinct soon after first human settlement, including the North American megafauna; others have become nearly extinct since European settlement, among them the American Bison and California Condor. [ [http://www.cpluhna.nau.edu/Biota/megafauna_extinctions.htm Pleistocene Megafauna Extinctions] ]

The last of the passenger pigeons died in 1914 after being the most common bird in North America. They were killed as both a source of food and because they were a threat to farming. Saving the Bald Eagle, the national bird of the U.S., from extinction was a notable conservation success.

Energy

Since about 86% of all types of energy used in the United States are derived from fossil fuel consumption it is closely linked to greenhouse gas emissions and therefore climate change. The energy policy of the United States is determined by federal, state and local public entities, which address issues of energy production, distribution, and consumption, such as building codes and gas mileage standards.

Mining

Nuclear

The most notable incident involving nuclear power in the U.S. was the Three Mile Island accident in 1979.

Nuclear safety

Nuclear safety in the U.S. is governed by federal regulations and continues to be studied by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The safety of nuclear plants and materials controlled by the U.S. government for research and weapons production, as well those powering naval vessels, is not governed by the NRC.

Anti-nuclear movement

The anti-nuclear movement in the United States is comprised of more than forty loosely-affiliated largely-grass roots anti-nuclear groups opposing the generation of nuclear power either locally, nationally or world-wide.

The movement succeeded in delaying construction of or halting commitments to build some new nuclear plants. [1] [2] [3] Anti-nuclear campaigns that captured national public attention in the 1970s involved the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant, Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, and Three Mile Island.

Pesticides

Pesticide use in the United States is predominately by the agricultural sector. and about a quarter of pesticides used are used in houses, yards, parks, golf courses, and swimming pools.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was first passed in 1947, giving the United States Department of Agriculture responsibility for regulating pesticides. In 1972, FIFRA underwent a major revision and transferred responsibility of pesticide regulation to the Environmental Protection Agency and shifted emphasis to protection of the environment and public health.

Pollution

uperfund

Superfund is the common name for the United States environmental policy officially known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. It was enacted by the United States Congress on 11 December 1980 in response to the Love Canal disaster.

Marine pollution

Population

The total U.S. population crossed the 100 million mark around 1915, the 200 million mark in 1967, and the 300 million mark in 2006 (estimated on Tuesday, October 17). [cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/06statab/pop.pdf |title=Statistical Abstract of the United States |publisher=United States Census Bureau] cite news
first =
last =
authorlink =
author =
title = U.S. population hits 300 million mark
url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15298443/
work = MSNBC (Associated Press)
date = 2006-10-17
accessdate = 2006-10-17] The U.S. population more than tripled during the 20th century — a growth rate of about 1.3 percent a year — from about 76 million in 1900 to 281 million in 2000. This is unlike most European countries, especially Germany, Russia, Italy and Greece, whose populations are slowly declining, and whose fertility rates are below replacement.

Population growth is fastest among minorities, and according to the United States Census Bureau's estimation for 2005, 45% of American children under the age of 5 are minorities. [cite web |url=http://www.prb.org/Articles/2006/IntheNewsUSPopulationIsNowOneThirdMinority.aspx?p=1U.S. |title=Population Is Now One-Third Minority] In 2007, the nation’s minority population reached 102.5 million. [ [http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html US Census Press Releases] , U.S. Census Bureau] A year before, the minority population totaled 100.7 million. Hispanic and Latino Americans accounted for almost half (1.4 million) of the national population growth of 2.9 million between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006. [cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html |title=U.S. Census Bureau: Minority Population Tops 100 Million]

Based on a population clock maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, the current U.S. population, as of 5:20 GMT (EST+5) August 14, 2008 is 304,865,108. [Citation
url=http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
title=U.S. Population Clock
publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
accessdate=2008-04-29] A 2004 U.S. Census Bureau report predicted an increase of one third by the year 2050. [cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/08s0010.pdf |title=Resident Population Projections by Sex and Age: 2010 to 2050 |accessdate=2008-04-29 |format=PDF (455k) |publisher=United States Census Bureau] A subsequent 2008 report projects a population of 439 million, which is a 44% increase from 2008.

Waste

At 760kg per person the United States generates the greatest amount of municipal waste. [http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/env_mun_was_gen-environment-municipal-waste-generation Municipal waste generation]

Polystrene

Worldwide there are numerous environmental organizations attempting to ban the use of polystyrene. One such organization in the U.S. is Californians Against Waste. [cite news| url=http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/A_NEWS/709210329| accessdate=2007-10-09|publisher=Stockton Record|date=21 September 2007| title= Business Gives Styrofoam a Rare Redemption.] The city of Berkeley, California, was one of the first cities in the world to ban polystyrene food packaging (called Styrofoam in the media announcements). [ [http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?archiveDate=12-06-01&storyID=8729 The Berkeley Daily Planet] ] [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/28/MNG65JLQJ411.DTL Styrofoam food packaging banned in Oakland] ] It was also banned in Portland, Oregon, and Suffolk County, New York, in 1990. [ [http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/polystyrene_ordinances_list Californians Against Waste website] ] Now, over 20 US cities have banned polystyrene food packaging, including Oakland, California, on Jan 1, 2007. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/28/MNG65JLQJ411.DTL San Francisco Chronical article, June 28, 2006] ] San Francisco introduced a ban on the packaging on June 1 2007: [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/BAGALM65AQ1.DTL&hw=styrofoam+ban&sn=003&sc=804 San Francisco Chronicle article, November 7, 2006] ] Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin noted:

"This is a long time coming. Polystyrene foam products rely on nonrenewable sources for production, are nearly indestructible and leave a legacy of pollution on our urban and natural environments. If McDonald's could see the light and phase out polystyrene foam more than a decade ago, it's about time San Francisco got with the program." [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/27/BAG5VJKTS91.DTL&hw=styrofoam&sn=004&sc=367 San Francisco Chronical Article, June 27, 2006] ]

The overall benefits of the ban in Portland have been questioned, [cite web |url=http://www.polystyrene.org/environment/Cascade1998_Portland.pdf |title=Paper Waste: Why Portland's Ban on Polystyrene Foam Products Has Been a Costly Failure |accessdate=2007-10-23 |last= Eckhardt|first=Angela |coauthors= |date=November, 1998 |work= |publisher=Cascade Policy Institute] as have the general environmental concepts of the use of paper versus polystyrene. [cite web
url=http://www.loyno.edu/lucec/essays/heroes.html
title=Where Might We Look for Environmental Heroes?
last= Thomas|first=Robert A.
publisher=Center for Environmental Communications, Loyola University, New Orleans
date=March 8 2005
accessdate=2007-10-23] The California and New York state legislatures are currently considering bills which would effectively ban expanded polystyrene in all takeout food packaging state-wide. [ [http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/current_legislation/ab904_07 AB 904] ]

Environmental movement

In the United States today, the organized environmental movement is represented by a wide range of organizations sometimes called non-governmental organizations or NGOs. These organizations exist on local national and international scales. Environmental NGOs vary widely in political views and in the amount they seek to influence the government. The environmental movement today consists of both large national groups and also many smaller local groups with local concerns. Some resemble the old U.S. conservation movement - whose modern expression is the Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society and National Geographic Society - American organizations with a worldwide influence.

ee also

*Environment of the United States
*Environmental issues in New York City
*Puget Sound environmental issues
*Domestic policy of the George W. Bush administration#Environment
*List of environmental issues

References