So, like, there’s this new memo from the White House, right? It’s telling federal agencies to basically ignore the financial impacts of climate change when making decisions about regulations and stuff. Unless, like, the law says they have to consider it. I mean, who even came up with this idea?
This whole thing revolves around this concept called the “social cost of carbon.” It’s been around for a while and helps policymakers understand how climate change affects the economy. In the Trump days, they put the cost at $5 per ton, which is like, super low. But in the Biden era, they recalculated and bumped it up to almost $200 per ton. That’s a huge jump, man.
David Cash, who used to work for the EPA in New England, explains that the social cost of carbon is all about figuring out the costs we’ll face if we don’t stop climate change. You know, like wildfires, flooding, and stuff. The government needs to regulate industries to protect people from these risks, but now the White House is acting like climate change isn’t a thing. Seriously, how can they ignore such a big issue? It’s mind-boggling.
I’m not really sure why this whole “zero cost of carbon” idea is even a thing. I mean, doesn’t it make sense to consider the impact of carbon emissions on society? The Trump administration is like, “Oh, there’s too much uncertainty, so let’s just ignore it.” But come on, there’s always uncertainty in decision-making. You just gotta deal with it and invest in science to clear things up. Sadly, the current administration seems to be cutting back on that too. Way to go, guys.
If they set the social cost of carbon to zero, it would mean weaker regulations, more pollution, and more climate-related disasters. Imagine more wildfires, floods, and health issues. It’s not just about numbers on a paper; it’s about real people suffering. We saw an increase in asthma cases during the wildfires in New England, for example. This stuff has a direct impact on our lives, and we can’t just pretend it’s not happening.
The social cost of carbon also takes into account things like deadly particulate matter that comes from wildfires, smokestacks, and tailpipes. These pollutants have a massive effect on public health, and regulations should address them. But now, with the White House memo, it seems like they’re moving in the opposite direction. It’s like they’re saying, “Who cares about people’s health, right?” It’s frustrating, to say the least.
In the end, we all need to speak out against decisions like this. Our environment, our families, our communities are all at risk. It’s up to us to protect what’s important and demand better from our leaders. Maybe if we raise our voices loud enough, they’ll start listening. Let’s hope so, at least.
