Climate change poses a major problem to the human race, and also poses a problem to biodiversity. Biodiversity is defined as the variety of species in the world, an ecosystem or a population. With the combined force of an extended season of red tide to the West and the onslaught of green slime to the North, environmentally friendly politics are becoming even more of hot-button items in Florida, and the effects of climate change have increased the frequency of environmental debates in the political climate.
Other than climate change, there are many threats to the diversity of the biosphere. A recently proposed set of blows to the regulations of the Endangered Species Act by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce could enable the extinction of around 1,200 species of animals and 750 species of plants that are either endangered or threatened. Among the animals at risk if their proposals are put into action are the West Indian manatee and the Florida panther. The new proposal suggests that the phrase, “without reference to possible economic or other impacts of such determination” be removed from the Endangered Species Act. This change allows for large corporations to easily bypass the regulations and exploit these at-risk species for their own gain. This proposed change shows the current administration’s blatant disregard for the safety of the environment and the planet and their devotion to profit.
The actions of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce show the latest efforts in a long line of the Federal government showing a disinterest in the protection of the environment. Other examples of the Federal government’s disinterest in the preservation of the environment is the legality of greenwashing and the paying off of government officials by oil companies and lobbyists. Greenwashing is the act of using deceptive tactics in order to fake an eco-friendly appearance. An example of this is the importation of Fiji water, which is not only package in non-biodegradable plastic, but also has caused a clean water shortage and an outbreak of Typhoid fever in Fiji. Marketing tactics such as these show a blatant lack of regard for the safety and preservation of the environment given that these techniques are completely legal and openly utilized. The legality of greenwashing raises many concerns of the environmental protection both in domestically and abroad.
Misdirection and distractions have long been used in politics. In Jan. of 2018, around the time that President Trump referred to Hatti, El Salvador, and several African countries as “shithole countries” in a tweet, Trump’s comment took up news coverage of important news events, such as the false ballistic missile alert in Hawaii or the mudslides in Southern California that cost $177 million in property damage. While there may be a hole in the ozone layer, we can all be rest assured that the current administration will do everything in its power to keep the public eye away from the impending doom of climate change and focused on whatever new foolish comment the president or one of his staffers make.
