Can government make a difference on climate?

With a Democratic victory in Georgia, the American Left got what they asked for. Can government make a difference on climate?

The answer is yes, government can take action. But in today’s political structure, will a Left-leaning administration with true legislative power succeed?

The next four years will reveal whether the US government is capable of making a difference.

With a control of the Senate, House and White House, the role of government in climate mitigation is being put to the test.

If somehow the Dems are unable to make a big green splash, it would pose larger questions about the federal government’s ability to solve climate issues.

Busy? Try the speed read.

The scoop: With control of Congress and the White House, Democrats have the weight of the world to take serious climate action. If they fail, perhaps government is incapable of getting the job done.

Some talking points:

• Any climate plan taken in the next few years should be targeted at institutions, not individuals.
• We need stringent environmental protections laws, and harsher rules on corporate carbon emissions. Let’s not over-regulate SMB’s though, please.
• ^In that light, if there was a vaccine-like waitlist for taking climate action, corporations should be at the top of the list. Let’s get them out of the way first.

Bottom line: The legacy of federal governance (fair or not) lies in the hands of an aging Biden. If his administration fails to bring about tangible change, the distrust of government may be irrevocable.

Dig deeper –> 1 min

Will government make a difference on climate?

We’ve heard about the Green New Deal, alternative climate plans, green stimulus package. In the Trump era, we heard about his rejection of the Paris accord, his plan to drill in the ANWR, EPA rollbacks, the dismantling of NEPA, the list goes on.

Well, January 20 is the day where the political fog about what-to-do will dissipate. American voters asked for change and they got it. The Dems say they want climate action; this is their chance to prove competence.

To be frank, I am not a fan of the “Build Back Better” scheme (you can read my thoughts about it on that link). It feels more like an elitist gerrymandering of assets than it is a forward-thinking plan for cleaner economies.

BBB has all the pretty jargon, but something about it is just so phony. Maybe that’s just me.

I’d like to see Congress push for more stringent environmental protection laws in places like ANWR (one of the last true wildernesses in the world), impose stricter guidelines on reckless corporations in terms of their output of carbon emissions.

Perhaps the US gov could double-down on mitigation credit systems (check out Magnolia) to incentivize companies to be on their best behavior — in a way that doesn’t destroy business, but actually makes economic sense.

Late last year, the USDA awarded nearly $500K to support Magnolia’s Agricultural Mitigation Banks.

If DC fails (not saying it will, but playing the what-if game here) all eyes would point to Muskheads in the private sector to make something happen.

Even with pressure from public opinion and socially-motivated politicians, is Big Business capable of leading the charge?

@ Biden team: Force change on institutions, not individuals

What I don’t like? The idea of government controlling energy use in households, telling people what cars to buy, how much meat to eat, etc.

I don’t eat animals, but I’m not about to tell you not to. Human diets for climate action is sort of an all or nothing scenario. And the “all” in that scenario requires too much gov influence over individual choices. That’s a slippery slope.

You know how there’s sort of a national waitlist for vaccine shots?

If there was a waitlist for climate action, institutions like corporations and government agencies should be at the top of the list.

Over the next four years, there’s no need for climate legislation that affects personal choices. Things like removing gas cars from the roadways should come last.

We need corporations to take action, and it’s sad to say but it may take more than one election cycle to accomplish. Most of Congress is still funded by bad actors.

The legacy of government lies in Biden

It’s sort of scary to think, but if Biden’s sweep of Congress isn’t enough to prove to the American people how DC is capable of being FDR-like competent, our distrust of institutions may be irreparable.

In that case, we may see 2022-4 elections that are more about creating systemic change than actual faces and candidates.