Is the emphasis on climate change causing environmental groups to ignore environmental problems that are closer to home?
Earlier this week, the Sierra Club endorsed a slate of Democratic candidates for our upcoming June 7the primaries, 
which include elections for our Board of Supervisors, State Legislators, and Member of Congress. The endorsements did not particularly surprise me, but the Sierra Club’s complete emphasis on the candidates’ commitments to combatting climate change struck me as a bit odd. Not only are there pressing local environmental problems here in Santa Barbara County, but the records of the endorsees in dealing with these problems are decidedly mixed, whereas other candidates have strong local environmental records. So, I wrote the local papers pointing this out and essentially asking the question: Whatever happened to the environmental mantra “think globally, act locally?”
What do you think? Are we losing this mindset at the state and local levels? Is that even a concern to people who identify as environmentalists? Are environmental groups in danger of losing supporters who do not see tangible environmental improvements in their communities? Let me know your thoughts.
May 3, 2016
I could not agree more.
We have one main environmental challenge here in Santa Barbara: Water, water, and water!
Two suggestions:
SBA county should form a Utility District. We should fund with bonds a YUGE solar farm in Mojave, well thought out enviromentally. That power gets shipped in to help our daytime peaking load. But most important we build desal plants to supply the prudent non agricultural needs of all county residents. We do not on the average, draw from wells — let the aquifer recover. We can recharge from storm runoff, if that ever happens again.
My most “popular” suggestion: Each time a property is sold, levy a 3% sales tax to fund placing or expanding solar panels on the property.
Call it the “clear skies and closed taps” platform for thinking globally and acting locally.
WER
May 10, 2016
Wayne,
In addition to focusing on our immediate local environmental challenges, I agree we need a more comprehensive and balanced approach to meeting our water and energy needs here in Santa Barbara while adhering to our strong environmental ethos. Although NIMBYism is a challenge, we should be leading the way on creative wind and solar solutions. With a major research university and an active environmental community, we should also be leading the charge to develop more environmentally-friendly desal technologies. We could be doing so much more than we are, and I am hoping that our new Board of Supervisors will have the composition and vision required to drive these new efforts forward.
Brian