The economic crisis and the environment...

The infamous housing and sub-prime mortgage crisis and the resulting massive economic downturn has had a multitude of impacts (both big and small) on several aspects of our lives. But to what degree has it had an effect on the environment?

I would expect much of the impact has been quite detrimental to the environment. Environmental programs put forth by government, businesses and other organizations may very well find themselves stuck on the shelves for awhile as more economy-centric programs are implemented in their place, or simply because the providers of the programs may be unable to afford to continue the programs. 

This could result in the curtailing of enforcement in several government environmental programs, which would be reminiscent of the Harris era in which numerous environmental programs were nearly eliminated and the frequency of illegal toxic dumping increased nearly 400%. This is a dangerous possibility. 

Households will also be less interested in 'greening' themselves as they become cash-strapped and focus primarily on the necessities. However, as households become less eager to spend, the demand for goods will also decrease, which in many cases may have negative effects. Take the price of gas for instance. It has sunk nearly 50% since the summer, prompting many to rekindle their love for driving and perhaps drive a little more than they did before the summer. Sadly, the atmosphere can't differentiate between cheap and expensive greenhouse gases.

But there is a tiny bit of hope. With the downfall of an industrial economy comes the reduction in industrial processes and therefore a fall in greenhouse gases. During the 1990s, Russia (an oil and gas giant) posted some of the most impressive reductions in greenhouse gases, making it one of the only large developed countries to even come close to achieving its Kyoto targets. Russia experienced massive unemployment after the collapse of the Soviet Union and a massive economic downfall, but once it got on its feet it began churning out the greenhouse gas and is now producing nearly as much greenhouse gas emissions as Canada (not something to be proud of).

But the revamping of the global economy doesn't have to have the same impact as in the Russian case. As governments deliver these massive stimulus packages, there is a window for significant environmental funding. Barack Obama has made it quite clear that he aims to take advantage of this, and one can hope other world leaders follow suit.

A wealth of problems have been created in the wake of the economic crisis. The fate of the environment lingers and we can only hope that it is still remembered as the world recovers and starts up again.