Ecological, environmental stimulus
August 4th, 2009 by Elizabeth UlionThe economy is dependent on ecological systems. This basic fact is completely left out of…well…everything, including economic theory . For this reason it is no surprise that the economic stimulus package promotes some “environmental” programs but there is less focus on “ecological” programs. “It is time, Earthlings, to turn that thinking on its head,” said Jeanine Pfeiffer of the Earthwatch Institute on Treehugger.com in February.
“We need to be investing, much more seriously, in our natural capital. Green energy sources, green jobs, and greener consumption habits are a terrific start towards positive environmental change. Interventions and actions that reduce environmental stresses are good for our ecosystems.
But we are not yet thinking like ecologists. We need to be thinking more holistically, and paying attention not only to lessening stressors, or re-channeling energy technologies. We need to be creating an ecological stimulus package, one that proactively and expansively improves life and living on our planet(my emphasis).”
Some funds have been given to projects that do just this. Wildlife refuges , wetlands restoration and coastal projects amongst others.
For a look at what green projects are getting dollars from the stimulus package Treehugger.com also has the hook up: Great Stuff Obama Will Help You Buy: includes wind turbines and biomass stoves. A search tool for the stimulus bill – find keywords, green or otherwise in the 1500 page bill. A Guide to the Green Stimulus Projects in Slideshow Form.
Elizabeth Ulion is a graduate student at Northwestern University. Her favorite stimulus project is fisherman retrieving lost nets at the bottom of Puget Sound. What’s yours? Yell it out at SocialYell.com!
Photo courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency.
