The Trump administration moved to repeal one of Obama's climate change regulations. This regulation is against the release of climate changing methane into the atmosphere. Methane traps more heat than carbon dioxide and is also responsible for 9 percent of all domestic greenhouse emissions. This rule is focused on the potential harm that the releasing of methane is onto the environment and what it could lead to for the future of the planet. Under this regulation, oil and gas companies are enforced to gather any leaked methane, write new plans for decreasing waste and renew their equipment. The Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management says that the rule cost too much and is too much of a burden, but also say that the rule is the same as 950,000 cars off of the road and that it avoids 180,000 tons of emissions yearly. This rule would cost the oil and gas companies up to $279 million to enact the regulation, making the repeal of this particular regulation a priority to them. Lawmakers approve of the repeal saying it is "a necessary step" and that it "scorned domestic energy" while Environmental activists express that it would, "allow unchecked waste of natural gas, unnecessary pollution and the loss of revenue to communities."
Discussion Questions:
- Do you agree with the the Trump administration and Lawmakers, that the regulation should be repealed? Why or why not?
- Why do you think Obama would create this regulation given that it would have such a negative outcome to the oil and gas companies?
- Do you think that the environmental stability should outweigh the economic stability of companies? Why or why not?
I do not think the regulation should be repealed because it is doing way more good than bad. With one regulation, the effect is the same "950,000 cars off of the road and it avoids 180,000 tons of emissions yearly". This one regulation has managed to accomplish this much so it doesn't matter that it costs the economy money. Rather than taking so many steps and precautions, this regulation itself is playing such a crucial role in helping climate change. I think Obama created this regulation for that very reason. It takes its toll on the economy however without a surviving environment, we wouldn't even have an economy. So I think environmental stability should outweigh the economic stability for now because without a stable environment, we wouldn't even be able to house a stable economy.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with the Trump administration at all, because the regulation was put into place due to our excessive releasing of greenhouse gases, and should be implemented because the effects of climate change are already producing disastrous results. Trump and his administration is putting priority of economic growth over the imminent threat of climate change, but in reality, if we focus on transferring our oil and fossil fuel industries towards renewable energy, it could produce much more economic growth. Fossil fuels are not a sustainable resource, as we're using them exponentially faster than it can be produced. Not only would we be closer to saving our planet by focusing on regulation and legislation such as this, it would also help our country in the long-run. Obama created this legislation with all of these reason in mind, and he knew that environmental stability should definitely outweigh the economic stability of the companies involved with fossil fuels, but it would help the American economy in general to be more economically-friendly.
ReplyDeleteI think that environmental stability is much more important than economical stability. If we do not have a healthy place, there would be no point to have an economy because everyone just wants to be healthy and would not care about a new product coming out or something. If we do not put time into the environment we will have no place to start an economy. I also think that the regulations should stay in place. The oil companies would start to die off, but all those people being kicked out of their jobs can just get back into a job by helping with renewable sources.
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