Communities of activists and advocates are keeping busy this week in the run-up to tomorrow’s commemoration of the 40th annual Earth Day. Last night I had the pleasure of hearing from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and a panel of climate and energy experts hosted by Planet Forward, an innovative project of The George Washington University.
Administrator Jackson outlined her agency’s plan to work with Congress toward comprehensive policies to reshape our energy future and speed the transition from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy sources. She engaged the audience in a frank conversation about the need to pay more attention to environmental issues, not just to preserve ecosystems and resources but to protect human health, build public policies around sound science, and guarantee equitable access to basic resources.
One of Administrator Jackson’s main initiatives at EPA is to expand the conversation around environmental issues to include new concerns and new voices. I couldn’t agree more with this goal; climate and energy is an issue of social justice, of public health, and of economic and national security concerns as much as ecological ones. Jackson’s own background as a native of New Orleans, an engineer and a mother speaks to what inspires so many in the environmental movement; not the spotted owl or old-growth forests (though they are important!) but the need to stop skyrocketing childhood asthma rates, clean polluted waterways, and create millions of jobs in green industries.
The Planet Forward event also featured panelists from the Hill, a major Mid-Atlantic utility, Mother Jones magazine, and the Natural Resources Defense Council speaking to the prospects for the Senate climate bill expected to be released next week. They are all looking for a bi-partisan bill that spurs clean energy innovation and protects consumers while setting strong targets for reducing emissions and honoring our obligations under international climate deals. It’s a lot to ask for, but it’s exactly the kind of policy we need to honor our obligations to be good stewards of our earth and protect all its inhabitants. The speakers at last night’s event show once again that comprehensive climate legislation is a goal shared by the business, scientific, and environmental communities among many others.
Planet Forward aims to engage all people – from professional environmental advocates to tree-planting children – in the conversation around climate and energy challenges. Using new media like twitter and Facebook, encouraging the public to submit videos of everyday actions to reduce energy use, and hosting online discussion forums are all part of the effort. As we get ready for to fight for comprehensive climate legislation in the Senate, we’ll need all the resources we can mobilize, including such innovative online communities. Tomorrow we mark the 40th annual Earth Day, and we hope you will join in the efforts to move our planet forward.