Climate Policy | The Complete Moderate's Guide

Introduction

The video introduces the topic of climate change and briefly discusses the history of environmental policy in the United States.

Climate Change and Environmental Policy

• The video acknowledges that climate change is a reality and will not be discussing whether it is happening or not.

• The Air Pollution Control Act was passed in 1955, which declared air pollution to be a danger to public health but did not control anything.

• In 1963, the Clean Air Act was passed, which gave the Public Health Service the authority to monitor and control air pollution at the federal level.

• In 1970, President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which transferred any pollution control or environmental regulations that had previously been handled by the Public Health Service to them.

The Clean Air Act

This section focuses on how the Clean Air Act laid down most of today's enforced regulations.

History of Clean Air Act

• The Clean Air Act was passed in 1963, giving authority to monitor and control air pollution at a federal level.

• It laid down most of today's enforced regulations for building factories.

• Before this act, there were no regulations at all.

Creation of EPA

This section focuses on how President Nixon created EPA after realizing that there were no proper regulations for handling environmental issues.

Creation of EPA

• In 1970, President Nixon created EPA after realizing that there were no proper regulations for handling environmental issues.

• Any pollution control or environmental regulations that had previously been handled by the Public Health Service were transferred to them.

Clean Water Act

This section focuses on how EPA passed clean water act in 1972 which established water quality standards and provided federal funds to the states for projects like wastewater treatment facilities.

Clean Water Act

• In 1972, EPA passed the Clean Water Act, which established water quality standards and provided federal funds to the states for projects like wastewater treatment facilities.

• This is one of the most popular and effective laws ever passed.

Pesticide Regulation

This section focuses on how EPA started regulating pesticide use in 1976.

Pesticide Regulation

• In 1976, EPA started regulating pesticide use.

• Runoff from a farm can contaminate a river just as much as an oil refinery.

• Despite what some people might tell you, pesticides are not safe for human consumption.

Stratospheric Ozone Layer

This section focuses on how EPA shifted their attention towards more abstract, long-term issues such as stratospheric ozone layer after taking care of obvious problems.

Stratospheric Ozone Layer

• After taking care of obvious problems, EPA shifted their attention towards more abstract, long-term issues such as the stratospheric ozone layer.

• The stratospheric ozone layer blocks around 98% of the sun’s ultraviolet light without which there would be no life outside of the ocean.

The History of Environmental Protection

This section discusses the history of environmental protection in the United States, starting with the discovery of the ozone hole and leading up to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Discovery of CFCs and Montreal Protocol

• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were discovered as the main culprit for causing the ozone hole.

• The 1987 Montreal Protocol was established to phase out CFCs, which led to a reduction in the size of the ozone hole.

• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) replaced CFCs but are greenhouse gases that trap more heat in the atmosphere.

Clean Air Act Amendments and Environmental Justice

• In 1990, amendments were made to address emissions from greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, and acid rain.

• The Office of Environmental Justice was established in 1992 to address pollution affecting poor and minority communities.

• NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) is a term used when people use their money and influence to stop corporations from building factories or plants near their homes.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol

• In 1992, countries came together to form the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change with an objective to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

• Annual meetings were held starting in 1995 to discuss progress and further actions needed.

• The Kyoto Protocol was established in 1997 with legally binding resolutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• However, it fell apart due to lack of participation by the United States, which led to the climate change denial movement.

Conclusion

• The history of environmental protection in the United States has been a series of successes and failures, with some progress made in reducing emissions and protecting communities from pollution. However, there is still much work to be done to address climate change and protect the environment for future generations.

The History of Climate Change Awareness

This section discusses the history of climate change awareness and how it has been influenced by politics and media.

Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth

• In 2006, Al Gore released a documentary called An Inconvenient Truth to raise awareness about climate change.

• The film was designed to get people politically involved and possibly get the United States back into the Kyoto Protocol.

• Most of the backlash to the film stemmed from the fact that it was Al Gore who was saying it. He was accused of making it up for attention.

South Park's Influence on Climate Change Awareness

• South Park aired an episode one month before An Inconvenient Truth, which made fun of Al Gore's stance on climate change.

• This episode may have poisoned public opinion towards climate change and affected how people viewed An Inconvenient Truth.

The Paris Agreement

• A sequel to An Inconvenient Truth detailed the political struggle of getting all countries in the world to agree to the Paris Climate Accords.

• The Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period ended in 2012, and while they tried to renew it in 2015, that took a back seat to the much larger Paris Agreement.

• Each country sets its own targets and finds its own way to reduce emissions under this agreement.

The Green New Deal

• In 2019, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party introduced the Green New Deal as a set of goals and aspirations, not legislation.

• PragerU put out a list of five things it will do, but since this is a non-binding resolution, every point is a bit of a stretch.

Understanding the Cost of the Green New Deal

In this section, the speaker discusses the cost of the Green New Deal and how it was calculated.

The Cost of the Green New Deal

• The American Action Forum is responsible for estimating that the Green New Deal would cost 93 trillion dollars.

• This figure is based on a number of assumptions, including an increase in minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour over ten years.

• The actual climate policies proposed in this deal would only cost 13 trillion dollars or 1.3 trillion dollars per year, which is barely more than what we spend on military.

• The money spent on healthcare and minimum wage increases doesn't just disappear; it ends up circulating in the economy.

Goals and Projects of the Green New Deal

In this section, the speaker discusses some of the goals and projects outlined in the Green New Deal.

Reaching Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2030

• The ultimate goal of the Green New Deal is for America to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

• Clean coal isn't a thing; carbon capture technology captures some but not all emissions.

• Cap and trade could be a possible solution to reducing carbon emissions but requires other mechanisms to work effectively.

Transitioning to Cleaner Sources

In this section, the speaker discusses the transition to cleaner sources of energy.

Natural Gas as a Transition Fuel

• The most common fuel we transition to is natural gas, which is a little cleaner than coal but still a fossil fuel.

• It's like switching from butter to margarine; it has less saturated fat, but it's the same amount of calories and you'll probably still get heart disease.

Problems with Solar and Wind Energy

In this section, the speaker discusses the problems with solar and wind energy.

Solar and Wind Farms are Unreliable

• Solar and wind farms only last a few years before they need to be replaced.

• They’re unreliable even at peak efficiency, and have to be supplemented by another power source, usually coal or natural gas.

Insufficient for Meeting Energy Demands

• Solar and wind energy will likely never be enough to meet our energy demands, not even with better batteries or kinetic storage.

• The real question is how do we meet the energy demands of all these people?

Problems with Biomass Energy

• Biomass energy (wood) is less energy dense than coal. You’d have to burn way more of it to produce the same amount of electricity.

• Growing trees for biomass energy is not sustainable on a large scale.

Overpopulation is Not a Thing

In this section, the speaker refutes claims about overpopulation being a problem.

Population Growth Will Level Off

• The human population will level off between 10 and 12 billion because as countries develop, their birth rates drop.

• The people who think that we’re going to be able to discover more oil or solar panel ourselves into the future… where life will look pretty much like it does now...either with more oil or greener -or both are delusional.

Nuclear Power as an Alternative

In this section, the speaker discusses nuclear power as an alternative to solar and wind energy.

Nuclear Power is Clean and Safe

• Nuclear power is the cleanest and safest form of energy we have.

• All the spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear plants in the United States could fit in a single football field if you stacked the fuel rods to a height of about three meters – that’s it.

Misconceptions About Nuclear Power

• Nuclear power has been lied about for decades. It creates only a small amount of radioactive waste, which is safely contained and usually stored on site.

• Fossil fuels render way more land as useless than nuclear waste does.

Nuclear Energy and Climate Change

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of harm reduction in nuclear energy rather than elimination. He also suggests that transitioning to renewable energy sources will be difficult and expensive but necessary to slow and reverse climate change.

The Goal Should Be Harm Reduction

• The speaker has been lied to about nuclear energy his entire life.

• The goal should be harm reduction, not elimination of nuclear energy.

• Even if you don't believe in climate change, transitioning to renewable energy sources is necessary for harm reduction.

Transitioning Will Be Difficult But Necessary

• Transitioning to renewable energy sources will be difficult and expensive.

• It will be easier than building miles of seawall and sacrificing millions of people.

• The United States can and should lead the way on slowing and reversing climate change.

CuriosityStream

In this section, the speaker recommends CuriosityStream as a subscription streaming service that offers thousands of documentaries and non-fiction titles across multiple platforms.

Features of CuriosityStream

• CuriosityStream is a subscription streaming service with thousands of documentaries and non-fiction titles.

• It can be accessed across multiple platforms.

• Signing up using the provided link gives access to Nebula, a new streaming service built by fellow YouTubers which includes several original series like Working Titles where different creators talk about their favorite TV show.

Working Titles

In this section, the speaker introduces Working Titles, an original series on Nebula where different creators talk about their favorite TV show.

About Working Titles

• Working Titles is an original series on Nebula.

• It features different creators talking about their favorite TV show.

• The speaker made an episode all about South Park which will be released next week.

Soft Power and Climate Change

In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of soft power and how it relates to climate change. He suggests that if the United States continues to act as it has been, it may find itself excluded from global efforts to combat climate change.

Soft Power and Climate Change

• The United States can and should lead the way on slowing and reversing climate change.

• If the United States continues to act as it has been, it may find itself excluded from global efforts to combat climate change.

• This concept is known as soft power.