by Beth Gardiner, Yale Environment 360
Highlights
Polluting industries such as airlines and fossil fuel companies have been lobbying for bailout funds and loosening of environmental regulations during the COVID-19 crisis
- Bailouts and lack of environmental regulations will create a high-carbon legacy that will last much longer than the current pandemic
- Since the pandemic, U.S. officials have finalized or advanced proposals to ease restrictions on logging, grazing, pipeline safety, and the disposal of radioactive waste
- Changes to the Clean Water Act, Endangered species Act, and other environmental review processes have allowed the Trump administration to advance its anti-regulatory agenda
- Chinese and South Korean Governments are also giving their coal industries a boost during this time
- In Brazil, illegal loggers, miners, and ranchers continue their exploitation of the Amazon rainforest as the government does nothing to prevent these crimes
- The CARES Act pandemic relief package allowed big polluters to obtain more deductions and bailout money
Fossil fuel divestment and the transition to 100% clean energy is critical to achieving The Climate Center’s goals under the Climate-Safe California Platform.
Read More: https://e360.yale.edu/features/in-pandemic-recovery-efforts-polluting-industries-are-winning-big
Nina Turner
Energy Programs and Communications CoordinatorJanina is a graduate of the Energy Management and Design program at Sonoma State University with experience in non-profits that specialize in sustainability and volunteerism.
