Five Big Ideas for the Environment for 2007

Our program experts offer ideas for environmental progress

Posted: 14-Nov-2006; Updated: 16-Jan-2007

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With new leadership in Congress, 2007 is shaping up as a critical year for progress on important environmental priorities.

We've asked some of our program experts to weigh in. They've helped us put together this list of five big ideas for 2007.

This is not a comprehensive list of our work, but reflects some of our national priorities, particularly focused on policies we think the new Congress will (or should) consider next year.

After reading our list, tell us what you think. Vote for your favorite idea using the voting tool on this page.

Big idea #1: Fight global warming AND grow the economy

"2007 is a critical year for national global warming action," says our Climate Change Policy Specialist, Melissa Carey. "The last few years have been about building momentum and creating a demand for our political leaders to take this issue seriously. We've hit that goal -- this issue has finally arrived in Washington.

"2007 is the year we need to start making law.

"The special interests who have tried to prevent global warming action have used scare tactics, warning of huge economic costs. They don't want Congress to understand that if we fight global warming the smart way - by setting a national cap on pollution and creating market incentives for industry to innovate - we not only cut emissions, but we give businesses the opportunity and flexibility to do it efficiently and at a long-term net cost savings.
 
"And you know what? We're winning. Momentum is on our side, and we need to keep working with Congressional leaders and their staff to get meaningful legislation voted out of Congress."

Learn more about our work to fight global warming.

Big idea #2: Protect endangered species by working with landowners

"It's not clear how the new Congress and committee chairs will approach species protection reforms," says our Land, Water and Wildlife Co-Director, Mary Kelly. "But, we may be ready to start promoting our own ideas, instead of focusing so much on stopping bad ones.

"One great idea is to stop treating farmers, ranchers and other private property owners like adversaries and start working with them as partners. With roughly three fourths of the land in the lower 48 states privately owned, meaningful habitat protection for endangered species must involve private landowners.

"For years, Environmental Defense has recognized that cooperation between environmentalists and landowners is an essential part of our species protection work. Through Safe Harbor agreements, we've protected endangered species while allowing private landowners the opportunity to continue to make a living off the land.

"We think this revolutionary spirit of constructive collaboration should serve as the foundation for any new species protection reforms in the coming years."

Learn more about our work to with landowners to protect endangered species.

Big idea #3: Reward farmers for conservation-friendly farming

Our Farm Policy Campaign Director, Scott Faber, says that our country's farmers care about protecting the environment.

"Whether trying to reduce agricultural runoff to decrease water pollution, improve energy efficiency or conserve more land to protect endangered species, farmers are looking for ways to do their part. Every year, hundreds of thousands of farmers seek conservation assistance from the US Department of Agriculture -- but, three out of four are rejected due to lack of funds.

"This is a golden opportunity for us – and reforming the Farm Bill is a big part of our strategy.

"The Farm Bill will be reauthorized next year, and we have our work cut out for us. If we succeed in getting more funding for conservation incentives, we'll be able to fight global warming, improve water and air quality, increase habitat for endangered wildlife, and provide consumers with healthier food choices.

"Over half of the land in the United States is owned by farmers and private landowners. It's time we start rewarding them for wanting to protect what's most important for our future generations."

Learn more about our work to reform the Farm Bill.

Big idea #4: Create a trust fund for the oceans

"The irony of the oceans is that we are using up their bounty before we can begin to understand what’s there in the first place," worries our Oceans Program Director, David Festa.

"The challenges are multiplying. Overfishing threatens to spark a global seafood crisis within a few decades. Fossil fuel pollution is changing the pH of the oceans, putting coral reefs and other vast ecosystems in jeopardy. And perverse fishing incentives actually reward over-fishing and waste, without returning a good living to fishermen.

"Our team of ocean policy experts is in the final stages of plans for a visionary Oceans, Coasts and Great Lakes Trust, which would usher in a new era of stewardship. The Trust will provide sustained funding for research, management and conservation efforts – to protect critical ecosystems, to improve resource management and to better understand our planet's last great frontier."

Learn more about our work to protect our oceans.

Big idea #5: Protect Gulf Coast communities AND wildlife by restoring coastal wetlands

"Wetland restoration may not sound very exciting," says our Land, Water and Wildlife Senior Attorney Tim Searchinger. "But as we saw in Hurricane Katrina it is a life and death issue – and we have to get it right."

"For years, we've been working to reform the U.S. government's 'flood control' policies, warning that they were eroding wetlands and exposing major population centers like New Orleans to extreme danger from storm surges.

"We've found that much of what passes for flood control actually encourages people to build in dangerous areas. In fact, while the federal government has spent $123 billion on flood control projects since the 1920s, average flood damage has almost tripled in real dollars – and that was calculated before Katrina.

"Instead of wasting tax-payer dollars on projects that ultimately make coastal communities less safe, we should focus our efforts – and federal dollars – on protecting places like New Orleans and restoring more of the coastal wetlands that act as natural buffer zones between populated communities and the open sea."

Learn more about our wetlands restoration work.