As you might imagine, even in Lotus Land there are plenty of opponents. Lots of folk figure that this will put the stalling economy into a death spiral and jobs will disappear. The state government argues that the laws will promote economic growth and create different employment. Some figure that since California's emissions are about one percent of the global total it will be a drop in the proverbial bucket.
Read this from National Public Radio:
California is about to try a radical experiment. A little over a year from now, the state will limit the greenhouse gas emissions from factories and power plants, and, eventually, emissions from vehicles.
The U.S. Congress tried to pass a similar plan for the whole country but dropped the idea last year. Paying a price for emissions has many Californians worried about what they'll have to pay for electricity and fuel and everything that takes energy to make. But the state's argument is that this will be good for the economy. Essentially, the law puts a statewide cap on the amount of greenhouse gases coming out of smokestacks and tailpipes.
I'm impressed. Through the past three decades governments at every level have claimed that they can't protect the environment because it will hurt the economy. And they say that they can't proceed unless everyone goes forward together. Going first can be risky and lonely but it can also be the prophetic thing to do. The words ecology and economy have the same root and they address the care of the home, whether it is our planet home, or our personal household. The two are intertwined. As Christians we can applaud a government which is willing to address both, and hope that our governments catch on.
Thoughts?
My first and only thought is WHEN will someone up here do the same? With all of our upcoming elections, I feel a sense of despair and resignation because I feel like nothing is going to change, and not only in terms of our environment. We will have the same faces represent us, just wearing a different suit. I am very interested to see if this action becomes the springboard for more to follow.
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