ENVIRONMENT

A Galaxy of Goals: Environment

by Will Englund

Sat. Jul 19, 2008


Goal: Create, improve, and protect at least 3 million wetlands acres

Target: Mission accomplished 2009
Promised in: April 2004
Progress: The Environmental Protection Agency says that federal agencies have accomplished the goal. Critics, such as those at the Natural Resources Defense Council, say that the administration is ignoring the real issue: Wetlands are still being lost. They detect a net decrease of about 80,000 acres a year.

Goal: Cut emission of air pollutants in the following ways:

Cut sulfur dioxide emissions from the current 11 million tons to 4.5 million tons
Target: Still in progress 2010
Promised in: February 2002

Cut sulfur dioxide emissions to 3 million tons
Target: Still in progress 2018
Promised in: February 2002

Cut nitrogen oxide emissions from the current 5 million tons to 2.1 million tons
Target: Still in progress 2008
Promised in: February 2002

Cut nitrogen oxide emissions to 1.7 million tons
Target: Still in progress 2018
Promised in: February 2002

Cut mercury emissions from the current 48 tons to 26 tons
Target: Still in progress 2010
Promised in: February 2002

Goal: Cut mercury emissions to 15 tons
Target: Still in progress 2018
Promised in: February 2002

Progress: Not enough. In 2003, the administration proposed "Clear Skies" legislation, but it died in Congress. EPA issued rules in 2005, introducing a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, with goals similar to the president's original objectives. EPA expects to meet those goals--but the pace will have to pick up. Sulfur dioxide emissions were down to 8.9 million tons in 2007, which is not on track to meet the 2010 deadline. Nitrogen oxide emissions were down to 3.3 million tons in 2007 but are expected to rise this year to 3.6 million. Mercury emissions are still at 48 tons, as they were in 2002.

Goal: Reduce greenhouse-gas "intensity" by 18 percent

Target: Still in progress 2012
Promised in: February 2002
Progress: This is a measure of the ratio of greenhouse-gas emissions to economic output. Initial progress was slow; EPA says that the country is now on track to surpass Bush's goal by the 2012 deadline.

Goal: Ensure that federal agencies conduct their business in an environmentally sound manner in the following ways:

Reduce energy intensity 3 percent annually through 2015, or 30 percent by the end of 2015, from the 2003 baseline
Target: Still in progress 2015
Promised in: January 2007

Reduce water consumption 2 percent annually through 2015, or 16 percent by the end of 2015, from the 2007 baseline
Target: Still in progress 2015
Promised in: January 2007

Ensure that 15 percent of each agency's building inventory incorporates sustainable practices (as defined by law) by 2015
Target: Still in progress 2015
Promised in: January 2007

Reduce each agency's motor vehicle use of petroleum products by 2 percent annually through 2015
Target: Still in progress 2015
Promised in: January 2007

Increase nonpetroleum-based fuel consumption by 10 percent annually
Target: Still in progress 2015
Promised in: January 2007

Progress: A sweeping executive order affirmed these goals. The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, which President Clinton created, will oversee it. The Bush administration points to gains of almost 30 percent in energy efficiency over the preceding two decades and says it can continue to make progress through "green" purchasing orders and recycling, among other steps.

Goal: Halt growth of greenhouse-gas emissions

Target: Maybe someday 2025
Promised in: April 2008
Progress: The administration is calling for the adoption of policies that would spur investment in new technologies--to find a way to produce electricity from coal without releasing carbon into the atmosphere, as one example--and for renewed promotion of nuclear power.

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