Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Cracks in the Environmental Community?

The national environmental community, while far from the most powerful alliance in DC, has found itself with more influence in the current political climate after decades of organizing. Now, one of the greatest challenges is to maintain a united message in an already diverse coalition. But one of my responsibilities is also to enact strong global warming legislation, even if coalition partners are selling short.

So when a coalition of 3 environmental groups and a score of regulated industries* released a report last week calling for a weak bill, many environmental groups pushed back. To see the harshest example, see this post in a popular environmental community insider blog, which argues that the "Blueprint" proposal falls way short of what science says we need. David Hawkins of NRDC, who was a big player in crafting the Blueprint, shot back in the comments section, and was allowed to create his own full post on the same blog, arguing that it was necessary politically. What follows below is my response to that post:

David’s point that environmental groups in USCAP must consider political strategy, and not just science, is absolutely right. But is the blueprint good strategy?

By finding a compromise between some environmental groups and some dirty industry companies, USCAP’s blueprint puts a stake in the sand for global warming policy. While it is too early to tell how heavy the stake is, it will inevitably draw politically-feasible outcomes towards itself. Industry groups asking for a weaker bill or no action will find their position less tenable in the face of industrial brethren that say the blueprint could be done without economic harm. Likewise, environmental groups will find it harder to demand stronger action with their allies having endorsed a weaker position.

Thus whether the move is helpful or harmful to strong global warming policy depends on what we would have gotten without it. If we would have gotten something worse, it will increase the likelihood of getting something better, and vice versa.

It is for this level of strategy that David has failed to give a convincing argument. Would we really have not been able to get anything better than this without the blueprint? The reaction of the environmental community makes it clear that most think too much was given away; we believe we can do more, and probably still can, despite the blueprint.

David argues, convincingly, that the industry groups that participated in USCAP also made impressive concessions. But it is not relevant which side gave up more, what’s relevant is what is possible now. The USCAP strategy, from the participating environmental groups’ perspective, was based on the assumption that the industry heel-dragging that has been the biggest obstacle for climate policy in the last decade would continue to be insurmountable. But the strategy fails to recognize the power of grassroots organizing and visionary leadership to sweep over the heads of special interests.

While USCAP was busy finding a document some people from all sides could agree on, Americans were busy organizing to kick out the naysayers and vote in the visionaries. So out comes the compromise between the industry and the enviros, after the enviros already won the public debate.

This isn’t a time to compromise, it’s time to follow the mandate of the American people and get it right. As David concedes, the blueprint doesn’t get it right.



*In this case, 'regulated industries' refers not to current legislation, but the fact that if we passed a cap and trade program, these industries would be subject to it (coal, oil, manufacturing, etc.).

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