We have the knowledge and technology. Where these are lacking, we have the processes for making improvements. Our economic and political cultures are the challenges. If we reestablish more hopeful and progressive systems, then we can all have livable wages and respectful relations on a hospitable planet.
It won’t be easy. It doesn’t mean that we each get a gold throne or toilet. Nevertheless, opportunities remain for us to leave a suitable home for future generations.
PLASTIC
Let’s start on the other side of the world. China banned the import of most plastic waste. They
have been a primary dumping ground for our waste for decades, which has led to significant detrimental impacts to people’s health and their environment. The new ban has led to recycling chaos in the US and Europe. Meanwhile, businesses producing more new plastic to trash the earth with are seeing this ban as a boon to their sales and revenues. In a purely economic world, the markets are telling us to throw more waste plastic into the infinite void while we make more and more new plastic. Any fool smarter than the genius in the White House can see that this course will not end well.
A broader approach will address this more holistically and turn this challenge into opportunity. First, we can take responsibility for our waste. Stop dumping it on others. We should consider reciprocating China’s import ban with our own ban on the export or import of plastic waste. In addition, we can use our plastic waste, just as China did, as resource inputs for recycling and manufacturing of downstream plastic products that will be made for the foreseeable future. We can have the recycling and manufacturing facilities both located here. In so doing, we can decrease the demand for new plastic, as well as, the natural gas precursor that is too often pumped out of the ground through fracking. Any negative impacts on fossil fuel drilling and processing jobs will be more than offset by gains in industries associated with recycling and manufacturing of products from recycled plastic
Making this work will require public-private partnerships. We cannot rely on the market. We can provide government supported R+D, award grants to innovative startups, and give tax incentives to plastic recycling factories. With domestic recycling, we can require that they abide by our environmental standards, as opposed to unknown, and probably lax standards, in developing countries. Proper regulation can limit plastic recycling to inland locations with rail access and, thereby, keep plastic waste out of rivers and oceans.
In short, China’s ban is an opportunity for us to be more responsible and sustainable with plastic, while benefiting the domestic industrial sector. Coordinated efforts between the public and private sectors will be required to make it work.
ENERGY
Where will these factories, and everyone else get their energy? Fortunately, we are transitioning to renewable energy. Renewable energy sources are increasingly competitive. Wind and solar are now as cheap as any fossil fuel. Countries are shifting to
renewable sources, while in the United States, California and Hawaii, along with many other states are leading the domestic
transition to renewable energy sources.
All of these energy sources also produce jobs. A DOE report concludes that the expansion of solar energy is employing as many people as are involved in energy generation from fossil fuels. Furthermore, growth in solar and wind energy employment is over 5 fold greater than growth in fossil fuel employment.
Even more impressive is efficiency. The electricity cost figure above shows that saving energy costs less than any energy source. On top of that, consider employment in negawatts. There are more jobs in energy efficiency than in any other energy sector, fossil fuel or renewable. We pay people to prevent the construction of power generating facilities of any type. Saving energy stimulates the economy. It does not mean going back to the dark ages.
IMPACTS
Between doing our own recycling, going to 100% renewable energy, and maximizing efficiency, we have the opportunity to make large strides to sustainability. Less pollution will be generated, and we will have more control over that waste than in our current situation of shipping waste overseas.
Many people will be employed in these expanding sectors. Plus, more jobs will be created to work in factories relying on these sectors for resources. These jobs will be spread throughout rural and urban America. Cities can continue recycling and zero waste efforts. Recycling facilities and associated factories can locate to exurban and rural locations. Add metal, paper and compost onto plastic recycling, and we have the potential to greatly expand rural and small town economies nationwide.
IMPEDIMENTS AND CONDITIONS
This sustainable and prosperous future will rely on a strong government that acts in the best interests of each of its citizens. Too many of our current politicians are influenced by the debunked tenants of supply side economics. Perhaps, this is a result of the unwarranted influence of money and corporations in our democracy, thanks in large part to the Citizens United vs the Federal Election Commission, though we had problems before that.
We have a large share of racist voters who would rather vote against their own interests than do something to help brown people. We have powerful interests entrenched in fossil fuels who actively hinder renewable energy. We have conservative media and its listeners who believe liberals are evil and oppose anything progressive. Many churches espouse many of those same conservative views, along with their own apocalyptic, dominionist and theocratic prophesies. Many of these groups distrust intellectualism and expertise outside of their predetermined bubbles.
All of this adds up to great difficulty for government to lead us towards this sustainable future. Even if government can act, we still have to overcome regressive policies. We need progressive taxation to ensure an equitable transition that is paid for by the entrepreneurs who profit from the new developments. At the very least, we can stop decreasing tax rates for millionaires. We also need strong labor organizations and support from the government so that workers earn livable wages and work in safe conditions. If automation precludes the benefits reaching workers, then we need to institute policies that share gains among all citizens in need. Plus, we need strong environmental regulation and enforcement to ensure that development is truly sustainable and does not come with poisoning of our land, air, or water. Finally, we need an integrated and resilient transportation and energy transmission infrastructure that allow people to benefit from success in these industries nationwide.
CONCLUSION
There is a sustainable energy and recycling future possible. Moreover, this future comes with business and employment opportunities throughout America, including cities, suburbs and rural areas. This transition will not be easy. There are significant impediments and challenges to progress throughout society. Many of these are largely cultural and political. None of these obstacles are impossible to overcome. We can pass on a livable earth to future generations. We have documented progress in renewable energy, and we still have hope for decent lives for all Americans, along with the rest of the world. We have a long way to go, but the possibilities we can see are more than enough to keep us working for a sustainable and prosperous future for all.