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<text id=89TT0058>
<link 93TG0019>
<title>
Jan. 02, 1989: What The U.S. Should Do
</title>
<history>
TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1989
Jan. 02, 1989 Planet Of The Year:Endangered Earth
</history>
<article>
<source>Time Magazine</source>
<hdr>
PLANET OF THE YEAR, Page 65
What The U.S. Should Do
</hdr><body>
<p> The U.S. has made significant strides in pollution control
and energy conservation during the past 15 years, but the
country remains the world's biggest user of natural resources
and a major despoiler of the global environment. Because of the
size of its economy, the U.S. consumes one-fourth of the
world's energy each year. Yet, for a given amount of energy, the
U.S. produces less than half as much economic output as Japan
and West Germany. Meanwhile, the commitment to reduce pollution
has flagged. Although the U.S. accounts for less than 5% of the
global population, it generates 15% of the world's sulfur
dioxide emissions and 25% of nitrogen oxides and carbon
dioxide. Each American produces an average of 3 1/2 lbs. of
trash a day.
</p>
<p> When energy was expensive, Americans treated it that way.
Between 1973 and 1985, when the price of oil surged, U.S. per
capita energy consumption fell 12% and the average amount of
goods and services generated per person rose 17%. In the past
few years, however, energy use has risen as the price has
declined. Americans, who own more than 135 million cars, or
about one-third of the world's total, have been driving more
and have resumed their love affair with large gas-guzzling cars.
</p>
<p> Because of its sheer size and influence, the U.S. must be in
the vanguard of the effort to solve the earth's environmental
crisis. Even before international bodies come up with global
strategies, the U.S. can take many steps, unilaterally and
immediately.
</p>
<p> 1. Raise the Gasoline Tax
</p>
<p> A gallon of unleaded gasoline, which costs roughly 95 cents,
is nearly a third cheaper now than it was eight years ago. When
inflation is taken into account, the price decline is closer to
50%. Raising the federal gasoline tax by 50 cents per gal., from
9 cents to 59 cents, over the next five years would renew
drivers' interest in fuel conservation.
</p>
<p> 2. Toughen Auto Fuel-Efficiency Requirements
</p>
<p> Federal regulations require that automakers produce fleets
of cars with an average fuel efficiency of 26 m.p.g. The
Government originally set a fuel-efficiency target of 27.5
m.p.g. for 1986, but the Reagan Administration allowed the car
companies to postpone that goal. The new Administration should
institute the 27.5 m.p.g. requirement and then gradually raise
it to 45 m.p.g. by the year 2000.
</p>
<p> 3. Encourage Waste Recycling
</p>
<p> The Federal Government should set national goals and
standards for recycling programs but leave their implementation
to state and local agencies. As an immediate first step, the
President and Congress should require federal agencies to
increase steadily their use of recycled paper products.
</p>
<p> 4. Promote Natural-Gas Usage
</p>
<p> Far more abundant than anyone thought a decade ago, natural
gas is the cleanest hydrocarbon fuel available. But in many
cases, utilities that wish to switch from coal-fired power
generation to gas-fired must go through a lengthy process to
obtain a federal permit. Such regulations, which inhibit the
increased use of natural gas, should be eased.
</p>
<p> 5. Encourage Debt-for-Nature Swaps
</p>
<p> The U.S. opposes all government-subsidized debt relief for
Third World countries. At a minimum, federal regulators should
encourage U.S. banks to participate in programs that reduce debt
in exchange for steps taken by debtor nations to protect
tropical rain forests and other resources.
</p>
<p> 6. Support Family Planning
</p>
<p> In 1984 the Reagan Administration cut off U.S. aid to the
two major international family-planning organizations. Reason:
the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and the
International Planned Parenthood Federation have been accused of
assisting some local population agencies that provide or pay for
abortions. Unless the growth in the world population is slowed,
it will be impossible to make serious progress on any
environmental issue. The U.S. should immediately restore the
aid it withdrew.
</p>
<p> 7. Ratify the Law of the Sea
</p>
<p> The U.S. has never ratified the 1982 U.N. Convention on Law
of the Sea, which sought to regulate mining and other commercial
development. The Administration argues that the treaty
interferes with private exploitation of the sea. That
ideological issue should be put aside so that the U.S. can
exercise global leadership and clear the way for international
pacts aimed at protecting the atmosphere.
</p>
<p> 8. Make the Environment a Summit Issue
</p>
<p> When the leaders of the major industrial nations gather next
June in Paris for their 15th economic summit, George Bush should
push to make environmental problems the No. 1 agenda item.
Ronald Reagan's success at previous summits stemmed from his
insistence on dealing with only one major topic. Should Bush
take that approach in Paris, global environmental issues stand a
better chance of getting the attention they deserve.
</p>
</body></article>
</text>