Texas Environmental Conservation Policy
Introduction
Environmental conservation is an instrumental component of many administrations and the state of Texas has been at the forefront to advocate for preservation. The policies proposed and implemented by the state have achieved strides that have slowed down environmental degradation, although there is a need for the administration to do more. This essay is an analysis of the environmental conservation policy adopted by the state over the years, and its effects. The first section of this paper analyzes the environmental conservation policy of the state. The second part offers an analysis of the benefits accrued by the policies and the general positive considerations of the administration. The third section offers criticism of these policies and the various shortcomings of the authorities. The last part of this essay is the conclusion which consolidates all the ideas presented and offers recommendations. The state of Texas has demonstrated massive goodwill to manage the environment efficiently but the government’s efforts can be bettered to improve outcomes.
State of Texas Policies
The environmental conservation policy enacted by Texas state is geared towards reducing some emissions and shifting the focus on renewable energy. The state government has enacted checks and balances for the major producers, including the industries which release the biggest quantity of various chemicals. Mercury is a major pollutant and effective reduction in its quantities in the environment is vital for the state. Over 1,517 facilities in Texas are affected under the standards that limited mercury release in 2014, and this number was reduced to 56 after further review of the policy (Ballotpedia, 2022).
Ground-level ozone, commonly referred to as smog, is another popular pollutant and the government has limited its release. Automobiles, power plants, factories, and other manufacturing centers are regulated under these standards that will take effect in 2025 (Ballotpedia, 2022). Reduced carbon dioxide emissions are also a priority for the state government, and laws were enacted to nationally reduced the amount released in 2005 by 32% before 2030. This plan was however suspended in a 2016 supreme court ruling to allow the country more time to generate intervention measures.
Positive Aspects of State Policies
Generally, the environmental conservation policies proposed and adhered to by the Texas state government are both favorable and unfavorable in certain ways. The favorable aspects of these policies arise from the focus on minimizing the production of waste. Mercury is a lethal metal that damages the soil, livelihoods, and living life. Critical quantities of this metal are responsible for death and disability in various parts of the world. Reducing the release of mercury in the environment is set to minimize the risk posed to the general population (Wolde-Rufael & Weldemeskel, 2020). Ozone gas is lethal and responsible for the increased environmental changes, including the increase in drought.
The increased temperature on earth is contributed by ozone, additionally responsible for the melting of the ice caps, rise in sea levels, and general inability to produce sufficient food. Some parts of the earth have become inhospitable as the conditions do not support human life. Reducing ozone gas production is vital in countering these changes to the earth and life in general (Makholm, 2021). Decreased carbon emissions is an additional policy geared towards conserving the environment for posterity. Carbon dioxide emission levels are currently at a historically high level and the Texas government needs to focus on reducing release.
Shortcomings of the State Policies
There are crucial shortcomings within the Texas environmental conservation policy, and these make the guidelines inefficient while proposing changes for posterity. The regulations on carbon dioxide emission for example are not measurable at the moment due to the supreme court’s decision to suspend the regulations in 2016. Various state governments went to the supreme court to petition the requirement to reduce the discharge by 32% before 2030 (Ballotpedia, 2022). This shows a lack of commitment to the environmental conservation drive, instead indicating a focus on business and production (Noailly et al., 2022). The environment continues to suffer the brute of massive carbon emissions from industries, home fuel combustion, and the use of automobiles. This has enabled runaway environmental degradation, gradually increasing global temperatures and making the earth more inhospitable.
The practical solution to ensure that the states can have adequate time to adhere to the carbon dioxide emission regulations would involve providing a new figure. This would ensure that the various stakeholders are still under surveillance while carrying out their goals (Ballotpedia, 2022). The state has not instituted any standing guidelines for its citizens or any state-level targets that are convenient for the various stakeholders. The place of accountability has been flaunted and this jeopardizes the globe and the lives of future citizens.
The state of Texas has also failed to focus its efforts on the continued growth of sufficient trees to tackle climate change. Trees act as great windbreakers and also consume massive quantities of carbon in the atmosphere. Trees utilize carbon dioxide to manufacture food, ensuring that there is less pollution, temperature rise through the greenhouse effect of this gas, and better air for breathing. The planting of trees should be a duty undertaken by all citizens, as they serve to beautify the environment (Lanza et al., 2021).
The planting of trees should be guided by policy measures instituted by the authorities which seclude specific areas for this undertaking. The planting of trees within the urban setting should be done through official notices that ensure adequate watering. The planting of trees is a measure poised to surpass all other measures geared towards the release of some gases in the atmosphere as the existing amounts will be reduced. When trees are planted, the state is likely to achieve lower and more favorable temperatures and reduced climate changes.
The focus on reducing the reduction of chemicals such as mercury from the environment is also ineffective as it allows a certain degree of danger to residents. Mercury is a metal responsible for massive healthcare derangements, including mental illnesses. Mercury additionally jeopardizes circulation and ventilation, causing massive bodily harm. The federal government of America has essentially legalized minimal harm to the residents of the country, instead of eliminating hazards entirely (Griggs et al., 2020).
Companies responsible for the emission of this metal should be tasked with eliminating its release into the environment entirely instead of partially. Alternatively, responsible companies can be implored to focus on other metals for their activities if zero release to the environment is not feasible. Such an option is vital in spurring creativity and stimulating innovation on the industrial front. Such a measure is a massive statement by the state of Texas on its commitment to prioritizing the citizens, even above monetary gain. Additionally, such a move is a refocus in the right direction of ensuring the state attends to the needs of the future generation by ensuring they inhabit a hospitable and vibrant environment.
An essential area of environmental conservation that has received minimal attention from the government is renewable sources of energy. These include wind and solar energy, which are ultimately cleaner and easily available sources. Large-scale production of electricity through solar energy is a major agenda for most states within the United States and Texas should be assuming a leading role in such a drive. Solar energy has shown massive effectiveness in various machines, including automobiles. Electric cars have become a breakthrough in the transport sector and should become fully embraced, to ensure the solar energy generated is used efficiently (Rahman et al., 2021). The policy direction should focus on the slow but sure eradication of fossil fuels driven cars from Texas roads. This can occur over several years, allowing people to purchase electric cars while setting up sufficient electricity points across the state. Incentives should also be availed for citizens willing to use electric vehicles, to ensure they embrace the move wholeheartedly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, environmental conservation is a pertinent issue for Texas and cannot be ignored, especially with the climate change that is ravaging the entire country. The government has embraced reduction as a critical preservation mechanism, minimizing the release of certain pollutants in the environment. The moves made by the government have made minimal impacts in achieving the targets and there is a need to reevaluate the policies constituted. Total elimination of some substances such as mercury is a crucial move that is likely to better conserve the environment and safeguard lives. The focus on planting trees is a game changer likely to spearhead improvements in the quality of air while also tackling climate change. Embracing electric automobiles is instrumental in minimizing fossil fuels combustion and will reduce carbon emissions.
References
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Lanza, K., Alcazar, M., Hoelscher, D. M., & Kohl, H. W. (2021). Effects of trees, gardens, and nature trails on heat index and child health: design and methods of the Green Schoolyards Project. BMC Public Health, 21(1). Web.
Makholm, J. D. (2021). The Texas energy debacle and the economists. Climate and Energy, 37(10), 19–25. Web.
Noailly, J., Nowzohour, L., & van den Heuvel, M. (2022). Does environmental policy uncertainty hinder investments towards a low-carbon economy? National Bureau of Economic Research. Web.
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