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Chris Craiker, The Napa Valley Architex Angle: How climate change can be a political merry-go-round - Napa Valley Register

Napa Valley Register · last updated May 4, 2024 – 10:23 AM

How climate change can be a political merry-go-round
Craiker

Avoiding politics in a column is always a challenge. However, we do have some major issues on the horizon to be considered now. Climate change is real: policies on how we deal with it vary significantly. While we hippies from the 60s were predicting these catastrophes, it was not until this century that we started to think seriously about the consequences. For example, a decade ago our national goal was to force power plants to stop burning coal, the dirtiest of all our fossil fuels. Then a new administration reversed that plan and actively proposed expansion of the coal industry. Now our White House is again trying to put an end to coal plant carbon emissions. What will be the next administration direction after November?

The point is, gyrating back and forth is not good for the economy, let alone for our well-being. Take for example, our nation’s participation in the Paris Climate Accord under Obama. We were fully invested in the mission, only to have the next administration pull us out. Now, the current president has rejoined and if Trump 2.0 is in the White House, we're likely to exit the accord again.

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Government and business policymakers are used to shifting between Democratic and Republican administrations, but this is a major disaster, not only for our environment but also our economy. Environmental policies and administrative agencies have been caught in a whiplash and it's creating a huge problem for the economy, no matter where you stand politically. Which way do you go for future business planning?

Senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Michael Carney, America's largest business lobby, recently noted we all have to make long-term prognostications — guesses — about how businesses are going to be future regulated. The whiplash back and forth does not create stability and sudden changes are challenging and costly. Even deregulation carries massive costs to industries. Starting up, then reversing course, costs the economy billions of dollars each way, every way.

While the current White House is restoring new rules previously deleted, in order to cut greenhouse emissions from cars an oil wells, industries are holding back, not because they don't want to make the changes, but because they don't want to change again.

It's been said that climate change will be the defining crisis of this century, however, there are still those that called global warming “a hoax.” What is particularly prickly is how so many American industries have already invested heavily in renewables, creating windmills, solar panels and recycling. Even the automakers agree: give them one mandate and they’ll follow it.

Interestingly, most American auto companies see electric cars as the future and are ramping-up production of hybrid/electric, all electric vehicles and high-capacity electric storage systems-batteries-integral to the future. Automobiles take four to six years to go from the drafting table to market. Trying to judge what's the policies will be in 2028-2030 is a real challenge.

There are several major national climate policies we need to continue and maintain:

- Coal and gas power plants must decrease their power generation. These fuels produce 25% of the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and the road to CO2 reduction is well laid and to their advantage. This won’t happen overnight but will take a steady approach. Currently, the U.S. is the world's leading exporter of liquified natural gas, a high carbon producer. We need to stop this.
- Automobile emissions standards must stay high. America's transportation systems, including automobiles and trucks, are responsible for another 25% of our greenhouse emissions. Unfortunately, while the auto industry is making the transition to all electric vehicles, the chief power supply will remain from coal and gas-powered plants until renewables take over.
- Continue the Inflation Reduction Act. With over $370 billion in tax credits over 10 years to help shift the U.S. toward a cleaner economy, incentives to buy electric vehicles and to solar power our homes must continue. Interestingly, the wind, solar and EV companies are most heavily invested in red states and for them to back-off on renewables is another whiplash mistake.
- Continue global climate negotiations. We cannot be an isolationist country. We can’t go it alone, not only with climate change but on all other programs where the U.S. is involved in the world.
- Accelerated recycling and reduce plastic production. All the current marketing flurry to make plastics look clean, is wrong. Plastics are the scorch of the world’s oceans and lands and must be stopped.

The big issue is consistency. Even if a new administration comes in, America deserves long-term climate policies that are beneficial to all citizens. It's important that we think of what is right for our nation and not send our industries and citizenry on a merry-go-round, changing direction arbitrary. It's costly and dangerous.
Sunday's Earth Day celebration in downtown Napa featured booths devoted to green products, services and information, along with live dance and music.

PHOTOS: American Canyon celebrates Earth Day

Earth Day volunteers pulled weeds from the native plant garden at Wetlands Edge Park on Sunday, April 21, during a community celebration organized by the American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation.

Bianca Morales, 7, and Dad Michael inspect bugs with a magnifying glass during American Canyon’s Earth Day celebration at Wetlands Edge Park on Sunday, April 21.

People take part in birding walk during American Canyon’s Earth Day celebration at Wetlands Edge Park on Sunday, April 21.

Sierra Club of Napa student intern Katherine Bit, 15, gives a demonstrates how the local watershed works during American Canyon’s Earth Day celebration at Wetlands Edge Park on Sunday, April 21.

Attendees at the American Canyon’s Earth Day celebration at Wetlands Edge Park make plant pots out of newspaper that can be transported and potted as is on Sunday, April 21.

Cylas, and Andres Betsas learn about fire safety at the Napa Firewise tent during American Canyon’s Earth Day celebration at Wetlands Edge Park on Sunday, April 21.

People visit the Canyon Oaks Garden Club stand during American Canyon’s Earth Day celebration at Wetlands Edge Park on Sunday, April 21.

People enjoy the American Canyon Earth Day celebration at Wetlands Edge Park on Sunday, April 21.

Tatum Ramos, 7, take part in a birding walk during American Canyon’s Earth Day celebration at Wetlands Edge Park on Sunday, April 21.

Addy Johnson, 12, with BSA Scout Troop 818 pulls weeds from the native plant garden at Wetlands Edge Park in American Canyon to celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 21.

People explored the activities at the Outdoor Connection Trailside Learning Center on Sunday, April 21 during American Canyon’s Earth Day celebration at Wetlands Edge Park.