Equity
The idea of equity is a slippery concept. In previous eras, the idea was usually applied to fairness in legal matters and tends to be associated with finance nowadays. Pertaining to society and sustainability, it is the idea that actions taken by one entity should not detrimentally affect another without consequence or recompense and, in the recent past, has come to signify governmental policy and regulations that guarantee social, economic, and environmental equality and justice. Actually, until the second half of the 20th century, the general attitude had been ‘might makes right’. In other words, if an individual had ability, ambition, and influence they could conduct their business as they saw fit. For instance, the coal industry knowingly exposed miners to carcinogenic coal dust without repercussions for decades after it had been discovered that thousands of premature deaths had been caused directly by their actions. Fortunately, lawmakers finally saw big coal for what it was (and still is today), an ogre that cared about nothing but their bottom line. The same can be said today of many petroleum companies, their lobbyists, and the politicians that support them (and vice versa). The auto, oil and gas, and energy industries have been spewing copious amounts toxins and greenhouse gases into the air and earth for over a century now, without being held accountable for their transgressions. Corporate America and government at all levels have realized that the harm is not only being visited upon the public but on them and their loved ones as well and are taking action. The EPA’s emissions requirements that took effect between 2007 and 2010 have reduced the level of NOx by 90% and PM by 95% (compared to 2000 levels). These reductions will prevent 8,300 premature deaths, 9,500 hospitalizations, and 1.5 million work days lost. This would be the equivalent of removing the emissions of 90% of trucks and buses (since 2000) or taking 13 million of them off of the road. The result, by 2030, will be the eradication of 2.6 million tons of NOx, 115,000 tons Non-methane Hydrocarbons (NMHC), and 109,000 tons of PM. To secure the way of life we, as Americans, have enjoyed for so long we must begin to understand that energy, the economy, and the environment are all interrelated and must be considered before any course of action is determined. And we must be held accountable, and hold accountable those by whom we are represented as well. This is the concept of equity.
The idea of equity is a slippery concept. In previous eras, the idea was usually applied to fairness in legal matters and tends to be associated with finance nowadays. Pertaining to society and sustainability, it is the idea that actions taken by one entity should not detrimentally affect another without consequence or recompense and, in the recent past, has come to signify governmental policy and regulations that guarantee social, economic, and environmental equality and justice. Actually, until the second half of the 20th century, the general attitude had been ‘might makes right’. In other words, if an individual had ability, ambition, and influence they could conduct their business as they saw fit. For instance, the coal industry knowingly exposed miners to carcinogenic coal dust without repercussions for decades after it had been discovered that thousands of premature deaths had been caused directly by their actions. Fortunately, lawmakers finally saw big coal for what it was (and still is today), an ogre that cared about nothing but their bottom line. The same can be said today of many petroleum companies, their lobbyists, and the politicians that support them (and vice versa). The auto, oil and gas, and energy industries have been spewing copious amounts toxins and greenhouse gases into the air and earth for over a century now, without being held accountable for their transgressions. Corporate America and government at all levels have realized that the harm is not only being visited upon the public but on them and their loved ones as well and are taking action. The EPA’s emissions requirements that took effect between 2007 and 2010 have reduced the level of NOx by 90% and PM by 95% (compared to 2000 levels). These reductions will prevent 8,300 premature deaths, 9,500 hospitalizations, and 1.5 million work days lost. This would be the equivalent of removing the emissions of 90% of trucks and buses (since 2000) or taking 13 million of them off of the road. The result, by 2030, will be the eradication of 2.6 million tons of NOx, 115,000 tons Non-methane Hydrocarbons (NMHC), and 109,000 tons of PM. To secure the way of life we, as Americans, have enjoyed for so long we must begin to understand that energy, the economy, and the environment are all interrelated and must be considered before any course of action is determined. And we must be held accountable, and hold accountable those by whom we are represented as well. This is the concept of equity.