Natural History Wanderings

In the wake of Tuesday’s election, for many it feels like we have entered bizarro world (a situation or setting which is weirdly inverted or opposite to expectations). Bizzaro or not, this is now our collective world reality, we need to organize, and prepare for what may come.

EAC will not ignore the potential implications of the national election results and what it could mean for our environment. With the election of Donald Trump and the Republican control of both houses of Congress, we can expect several attempts to rollback climate and conservation policies.

Many in our EAC community are fortunate to call California home, but we cannot take that for granted. The environment we love and work to protect will be under serious threat with proposed changes to national environmental policies. We can predict attempts to setback energy policies, management of public land resources, and participation in global climate change agreements.

Earlier this week, EAC staff participated in a national post election briefing conference sponsored by National Resources Defense Council. This meeting highlighted the potential areas of concern for environmental policies, climate change implications, and immediate strategies to make changes before President Obama departs and President-elect Trump takes office on January 20th. There are several factors the public needs to monitor over the next few days, weeks, and months as the President-elect sets up his Transition Team, makes Cabinet and staff selections, and begins to outline clear policy agenda items for the first time.

Trump’s Cabinet Selections

We can expect President-elect Trump to make controversial cabinet nominations to positions that directly impact environmental policies. There are disturbing reportsHarold Hamm is a leading contender for Secretary of Energy pushing for increased fracking, oil pipelines, removal of the carbon tax, and “declawing” of the Environmental Protection Agency. Early considerations for Secretary of the Interior include: Forrest Lucas, co-founder of Lucas Oil, Donald Trump Jr., and former Alaskan Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Trump and Climate Change

We can expect climate change policies to be threatened. President-elect Trump has already stated his intentions to rescind the Clean Power Plan, that places carbon pollution emission limits on power plants, and to tear up the Paris Climate Agreement.

Trump and Public Lands

President-elect Trump made conflicting statements on management of public lands throughout his campaign. It does not seem that President-elect Trump is in favor of ceding federal lands to states for management; but, due to his lack of outlined policies, it is important to listen carefully to his transition team over the next two months. Republicans announced this week that environmental policies would be a high priority target in the first year of the Trump presidency.

What Could Actually Happen?

As we all know, the president is not able to “tear up” agreements, easily rescind regulations, and our system was designed to have checks and balances. The presidential office does not hold absolute power or have mandates to make unilateral changes.

• The Clean Power Plan cannot be easily rescinded. It would require an entire process where a proposed plan would have to be presented, comments would have to be taken and responded to, voting would have to take place, and legal challenges would be filed. This challenge would not be an easy undertaking, and several roadblocks could be put into place.
• The Paris Climate Agreement is also something that cannot be “torn up.” There is a three to four year process to back out of the agreement.
• National monuments cannot be undone, even though they can be administered differently.
• President-elect Trump’s selections for the head of the Environmental Protection Agency are problematic, and we may see management changes in this agency.

In the face of these threats, it is important to remember the Republican Party has its own divisions and different shades of conservatism. Remember power corrupts. We cannot assume Republicans will be one solid unit that will stay focused and avoid the greed of their majority. There are 48 mostly pro-environment senators under Chuck Schumer’s leadership, and they will create resistance.

President Obama remains in office for two more months. Several environmental measures are being fast tracked by the administration, including protections to declare the Artic and Atlantic permanently off limits.

The Wall Street Journal reported on November 10, 2016, “The Interior Department is currently working and expediting regulations for renewal energy development on public lands, finish an offshore oil and natural gas leasing plan; methane standards for oil and gas wells on public lands; and a stream protection rule for coal mining. The Environmental Protection Agency is also expected to issue final ethanol quotas that refineries would have to meet next year.”

What Can We Do?

We are not sure what is to come. There are a lot of unknowns as President-elect Trump was inconsistent in his proposed policy statements. Intense public pressure and push back will redirect ill-conceived attacks on environmental policy by elected representatives.

• Vigilance and public participation will be required to ensure dramatic changes to our environmental policies receive intense public pressure and scrutiny.
• Public pressure starts at the local level. It is critical that the local environmental groups inspire advocacy, create coalitions, and keep people informed of the facts.
• Movements begin from the ground up. Changes at the local level influence regional decisions and ultimately national decisions.
• Environmental groups and the public need to participate in local climate change planning and resource protections.

Remember that environmental values like clean air and water, healthy terrestrial and marine ecosystems that support plants and wildlife, and access to these places for all are shared visions by the majority of Americans across political boundaries.

With your help, EAC will continue its work on many local issues that help to create local changes that have state-wide climate change implications. You can count on EAC staying engaged with our long-term work on the Marin County Local Coastal Program, and participating in sea-level rise adaptation strategies and planning.

Silver Linings for California

Despite the madness of the national election, there was consolation on election night in our local and state elections.

Californians will maintain our statewide ban on plastic bags as Proposition 67 succeeded, meaning efforts to overturn the ban were not successful.

The California legislature issued a public statement on November 9, 2016 stating, “California has long set an example for other states to follow. And California will defend its people and our progress. We are not going to allow one election to reverse generations of progress at the height of our historic diversity, scientific advancement, economic output, and sense of global responsibility…California was not a part of this nation when its history began, but we are clearly now the keeper of its future.”

Governor Jerry Brown stated on November 11, 2016, “We will protect the precious rights of our people and continue to confront the existential threat of our time — devastating climate change.”

What Could the Future Hold?

To ensure environmental protections remain in place, we all must roll up our sleeves and prepare by getting engaged and being involved with environmental organizations.

Stay engaged by renewing your EAC membership or joining today to ensure that you keep your local environmental group active and engaged as we prepare to face years of threats to our shared environmental values and important environmental policies.

Thank you to all of our members who have kept EAC a vibrant part of our West Marin community for over 45-years.

With gratitude,

Morgan Patton on behalf of the EAC staff