Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. For a look at the last half-century of mobilization for action, visit earthday.org/history.
"As our Native American colleagues tell us, our decisions today – legislatively and individually – should result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future," says Dr. Bob Lorinser. "I support sound environmental policies that protect our future and, especially for us, our Great Lakes."
Environmental policy at the federal, state, and local levels protects the environment and conserves natural resources. It's also essential our environmental initiatives stimulate economic growth, employment, affordable energy, and businesses and individuals' rights.
Greenhouse Gas Reductions
Global temperature increases pose existential threats to our lives. As climate change worsens, human health, livelihood, food security, water supply, and economic growth will be endangered. The United States can address the global climate threats of greenhouse gases while creating stable, good-paying jobs and boosting our economy. It is not one or the other but a win-win.
Dr. Lorinser will support initiatives to achieve a 100% clean energy economy and reach net-zero emissions no later than 2050 by working with local, state, regional, and national partners.
We must enact a national strategy to clean energy and long-term community investment.
Lorinser supports renewable, carbon-free sources of energy.
Dr. Bob supports carbon fees that place a monetary price on the "real costs" imposed on our economy by greenhouse emissions and the global warming they cause.
He will push initiatives to keep the United States the world leader in clean energy research, investment, commercialization, manufacturing, and exports.
We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sources, including household activities, factories, agriculture, and transportation.
The United States accounts for only 15% of global emissions. Lorinser also hopes to be a Congressional leader in enforcing international agreements to reduce emissions and a worldwide ban on fossil fuel subsidies.
Dr. Bob supports:
The Clean Air Act — sets national air quality standards and reduces air pollutants and their sources of ozone, lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter.
The Clean Water Act — establishes wastewater standards and makes it illegal to discharge a pollutant into navigable waters without a federal permit.
The Endangered Species Act — prohibits taking any action that would result in the destruction or adverse modification of any federally listed species or its habitat. It prohibits an action that causes the taking of any listed species.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act – reduces hazardous pollutants at uncontrolled or abandoned waste sites and created the Superfund program.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act — engages in hazardous and non-hazardous waste management and oversees the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. It is required that waste be minimized and disposed of in contaminated lands. The EPA also oversees underground storage tanks for petroleum and other potentially hazardous substances as part of the agency's storage tank program.
The Safe Drinking Water Act — maintains water quality for above-ground water and underground drinking water sources.
Dr. Bob Lorinser will champion, fund, and work closely with the following Federal agencies which carry out and enforce environmental policies.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — protect human health and the environment
The U.S. Department of the Interior — manages natural resources.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) — to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) — manages federal land to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
