Business & Education News - December 8, 2004

A little string music

Jack Riemer of the Houston Chronicle used to tell the story of a famous 1995 violin concert by Itzhak Perlman at Lincoln Center in New York City. Perlman, stricken with polio as a child, had to labor onto the stage with braces on both legs and crutches on both arms to produce his magic. But on this particular night, after he finally got into place, a string broke near the very beginning of the concert. Now everyone knows it is impossible to play a symphony with only three strings, but that night Perlman persevered. He improvised the piece, he cajoled the remaining three strings, and he somehow modulated a veritable masterpiece, bringing tears to the eyes of the audience and thunderous applause. After the concert, he was asked how in the world he was able to create such a marvel with only three strings. He replied, “You know, sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.”

That should be an inspiration to all of us fellow “artists” in environmental science after an election campaign in which the word “environment” was scarcely mentioned. We may have lost at least one string, but we’re not out. In this new year, we have yet to determine what can be accomplished with what remains. In short, we need to get over it already, forge new alliances, and find opportunities that inevitably will result from the policy neglect of the past four years. Polls don’t lie, and the environment is still immensely important and popular with the public. But it is not high on the list of priorities with this year’s Congress and administration.

Obviously, with a huge budget deficit and a war in Iraq, major new legislation and funding for the environment will be very difficult. But we know already that certain legislation is on the table. The proposal to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil production is sure to rear its head again, and its fate remains uncertain. If it must pass, advantage should be taken to achieve other important environmental objectives, such as a national renewable energy portfolio and protection of the Endangered Species Act, which is vulnerable this year.

After four years of failure, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Joe Barton (R-TX) says that he won’t pursue a comprehensive Energy Bill through his committee—it must proceed piecemeal, if at all. How tragic that we cannot pass major legislation to overhaul electricity grids, boost renewable energy, and promote efficiency to make us energy-independent and to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions (two birds with one stone). The stumbling block has been the insistence by some members of Congress on protecting MTBE-producing companies from lawsuits filed by water utilities for polluted groundwater aquifers. But piecemeal legislation has some advantages in drawing public attention to popular energy solutions, and these obviate the need to protect oil supply lines in the Middle East.

The McCain–Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act is still short on votes. But the timing is right for a new bipartisan effort on greenhouse gas emissions because the Kyoto Accords will come into force in less than two months (an embarrassment to the United States and its relationship to Europe). The McCain–Lieberman bill is “Kyoto-light”, but it is starting to look more favorable to a Congress that wants to mend bridges with Europe. It provides for improved fuel efficiency for cars (low-hanging fruit) and a renewable energy portfolio.

Congress may address the 2007 Farm Bill this term. Because of the ongoing Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations, it seems more likely that direct subsidies for cotton and grains will become unacceptable. In that case, environmental payments for farmers may be the best means to reduce total farm payments.

Although research funding appears to be level or decreasing at major environmental funding agencies, there will be some opportunities. Environmental aspects of nanotechnology, molecular biology, sustainability, cyber infrastructure, and sensor networks will be hot. Where environmental interests intersect with energy, homeland security, trade, and agriculture should provide research opportunities. The U.S. EPA has recently established a permanent National Homeland Security Research Center and a National Center for Computational Toxicology. One thing is certain: There will be lots of interest in the water availability problems of the West. We are in a multiyear drought of huge proportions, and our “Law of the River” assumes that there will always be some water to allocate.

From January 20, President George W. Bush is a lame duck, and it’s all about his legacy now. Don’t be surprised if he suddenly adopts some aspect of the environment as his own. It will be an easy mark because so little has been accomplished thus far. On our part, we need to improvise, cajole, and modulate. It is time for a little string music.

Jerald L. Schnoor
Editor
est@uiowa.edu