Earth Day 2025

Environmental protection is not going to go away. Despite other pressures, the American people still care deeply about the quality of their environment. They care about air pollution, trash and noise in their cities. They care about having natural areas nearby where they can fish and hike. They worry about the toxic chemicals in the factories and fields in which they work. More than ever before, people appreciate that this is the only planet we have.

The sooner our government accepts this and ceases to spend millions of consumer and investment dollars in non-productive legal and propaganda efforts, the more productive and healthier we will all be. We can conserve significant amounts of energy to help meet the nation's goals while developing renewable energy resources.

Conservation is preferable to coal mining vast amounts of productive agricultural land, and creating more nuclear waste, whose cost and dangers will burden future generations for years to come.

There are many other ways to conserve energy. Conservation is a cheaper and healthier way for the country to buy time to develop renewable energy sources.

What truly is needed is policy, both on the national and local levels that will protect the environmental integrity of the land and encourage the rebuilding of that which has previously been destroyed.

There is no question that carbon-fuel emissions are contributing to greenhouse gases. A warming of the oceans' temperatures worldwide is expected, along with an increased frequency of storm activity and a rise in sea level. With over two trillion dollars in property exposure to hurricanes in Florida, prudence dictates that Florida move forward with all available speed to renewable energy. Florida is especially vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, due to its over 8,000 miles of tidal shoreline, with nearly 79% of its population living in coastal counties. Scientific evidence for global warming can no longer be ignored.

As Florida's population increases, the water-quality and environmental standards that agencies have so easily relaxed in the last two decades will become of paramount importance.

Because local governments have failed to provide roads, sewers, schools, and the other public facilities necessary to permit the growth, Florida’s budget routinely redirects millions of dollars from environmental programs to the general fund.

Priorities of state funding for environmental protection are low. It is unfortunate that the inaction of the Florida legislature to adequately fund environmental and public health legislation will impact Floridians for years to come.

ManaSota-88 continues to work as an advocate for the protection of our environment and public health. Our commitment to safeguarding air, land, and water quality is aggressive and uncompromising. Without the help of people who care about the environment, our work would not be possible.

Glenn Compton is the Chairman of ManaSota 88, a non-profit organization that has spent over 30 years fighting to protect the environment of Manatee and Sarasota counties.