From the Executive Director and Chief Counsel: Clean Air Council’s Priorities in 2021
The start of a new year provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the past and plan for the future. 2020 was a stressful and difficult year. COVID-19 upended almost every aspect of American life. The Council responded quickly by having its staff work remotely – the Council has an amazing staff and they rose to the occasion. It is sad how divided America is and the bitterness between us seems to be growing. But it was also a year of optimism where long established issues of social injustice came to the fore and hopefully will start to be meaningfully addressed. Many Americans, businesses and non-profits were hit hard by the economic downturn. 2021 will be a new year and I pray that healing from the pandemic, economic downturn and our political divide can start in early 2021.
2021 will be my 39th year at the Council. One of the issues that the Council is working on is how to ensure a smooth transition when the time comes for me to retire. The last few years have been hard for environmental protection. The Trump administration rolled back many of the federal environmental protections that the Council worked on for years to secure. At the state level, there were some victories and some defeats. In the last couple of years, Pennsylvania has seen notable progress in addressing climate change with two major initiatives, but still promotes policies and subsidies that support or provide loopholes to the fossil fuel industry. The Council continues its efforts to get states to move forward in addressing climate change, and getting Pennsylvania’s elected leaders to understand the great environmental and economic opportunities provided by the burgeoning green economy.
Clean Air Council has had many achievements since 1967. Today we know so much more about our environment and the devastating effects of fossil fuel’s contribution to climate change. We know climate change is not only real, but already causing serious harms throughout the country and in many Pennsylvania communities.
Despite many victories, there are many days when I’m in no mood to celebrate our past accomplishments. We have lost so much ground recently. America stands alone as the only major country in the world not part of the Paris Agreement. In Pennsylvania, now the second largest natural gas producer in the US, methane and other pollutants endanger the health of thousands. Meanwhile, new pipelines are tearing through our communities, and irresponsible drilling has resulted in hundreds of spills, tree clearing, seriously harming local communities, and local ecosystems.
I chose to be an environmental advocate in Pennsylvania and I have no choice but to be an optimist. I believe 2021 will offer new opportunities to block the growing anti-environmentalism among many of our elected officials. Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly want clean air, clean water and protected open spaces. In fact, it is guaranteed in Pennsylvania’s Constitution by the Environmental Rights Amendment (ERA) and thanks to groups like Clean Air Council and others, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has reinvigorated the application of the ERA.
We have a lot to do in the coming year and thanks to our supporters I am convinced we’ll make great strides. Here are the Council’s priorities for 2021:
Work with other environmental groups to overturn the last 4 years of federal rollbacks of environmental laws that protect public health and the environment: Elections have results, and each incoming administration will have its environmental priorities. The Biden administration will be a moderate one, but will support moving forward on addressing climate change and bring back the use of good science in rulemaking.
Ensure enforcement of rules and regulations that protect public health and preservation of ecosystems in Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania is a state that has always been welcoming of extractive industries. Over the last few years, it has deliberately underfunded the Department of Environmental Protection so that it can no longer do an adequate job of protecting public health and the environment through rigorous permit reviews, enforcement of existing laws and regulations, and monitoring of potential polluters. At the same time, we continue to see proposals for new gigantic natural gas power plants and pipelines that serve no real purpose and would seriously degrade the environment. Groups like Clean Air Council are left to pick up the slack. We are up to the task and are ready to support residents and local groups across the state in raising concerns about proposed fossil fuel projects. The Council has no fear of suing the DEP or any industry if needed to protect public health and the environment. We also willingly lend our expertise to DEP as they develop and propose new regulations. Finally, we will continue to work with local governments throughout Pennsylvania on developing ordinances that limit where polluting sources can be sited.
Give voice to environmental justice communities impacted by pollution: It is no secret that some communities are more impacted than others when it comes to being asked to host polluting facilities. Working to bring environmental justice to these communities is a top priority of Clean Air Council. The Council’s community organizers, engineers and lawyers help residents make their voices heard. As one example, the Council’s engineers have developed accurate, low-cost air monitoring devices, designed to be loaned to communities, so concerned residents can monitor air pollution levels where they live, or where their children go to school.
Promote the green economy: We need to rapidly shift away from using fossil fuels. The history of fossil fuel extraction in Pennsylvania has left a terrible toll on our state’s environment. I am proud that the Clean Air Council is working with local governments big and small throughout Pennsylvania to support them in moving forward with energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Council will continue to address state and local barriers that stand in the way of expanding solar and wind power in Pennsylvania.
Reduce pollution from the transportation sector: One bright spot of the challenging year 2020, was improved air quality during the spring and summer months due to drastically fewer vehicles on the road. More people were riding bikes than ever before and enjoying the outdoors as pedestrians. As people return to work, though, they are more likely to drive alone and we are vulnerable to increased pollution from the transportation sector that is already the leading contributor of greenhouse gas emissions nationally. The Council will work at the state and local level that help public transportation recover, expand bicycle and pedestrians facilities, and make it easier to get around without a car.
The Council depends on support from the public for all the important work we do. I love hearing feedback from our supporters on how they think the Council is doing, and about more ways we can help protect your right to a healthy environment. Please reach out to members@cleanair.org and I will look forward to reading your feedback and suggestions!
Sincerely,
Joseph Otis Minott, Esq
Executive Director and Chief Counsel
