Environmental politics inthe American West 1/20/13
EcoWest missionInform and advance conservation in the
AmericanWest by analyzing, visualizing, and sharing dataon
environmental trends. 1/20/13
EcoWest decks This is one of six presentations that illustrate
key environmental metrics. Libraries for each topic contain
additional slides. Issue Sample metrics Water Per capita water
consumption, price of water, trends in transfers Biodiversity
Number of endangered species, government funding for species
protection Wildfires Size and number of wildfires, suppression
costs Land Area protected by land trusts, location of proposed
wilderness areas Climate Temperature and precipitation projections
Politics Conservation funding, public opinion Download
presentations and libraries at ecowest.org 1/20/13
Table of contents 1. Public opinion State of the environment
Specific issues and policies Climate change 2. Conservation funding
Federal budget and agencies Ballot measures Philanthropy
1/20/13
PUBLIC OPINION 1/20/13
Key points: public opinion The environment doesnt rank high on
the publics agenda, but a majority of Americans remain concerned
about a wide variety of environmental problems The public agrees
with many of the environmental movements policy goals, but only
about a fifth of Americans identify themselves as active
participants The Great Recession has shifted public opinion away
from environmental concerns over the past few years Air and water
pollution tend to be the most worrisome environmental issues
Disasters, such as the BP oil spill, can cause spikes of interest
in environmental issues Whos in the White House can influence
perceptions of environmental quality: the 2008 election caused more
Americans to say things are improving Americans remain split on
global warming, especially along party lines, with a significant
percentage saying the threat is exaggerated and will not affect
their lives 1/20/13
STATE OF THEENVIRONMENT 1/20/13
Whats the most important problem facing the U.S.? Economy in
general Unemployment/Jobs Dissatisfaction with government Federal
budget deficit/Federal debtPoor healthcare/hospitals; High cost of
healthcare Lack of money Education/Poor education/Access to
educationEthics/moral/religious/family decline; Dishonesty
Immigration/Illegal aliens Care for the elderly/Medicare Corporate
corruption Energy/Lack of energy sources Environment/Pollution
Foreign aid/Focus overseas Fuel/Oil prices Gap between rich and
poor International issues, problems Judicial system/Courts/Laws
Lack of military defense Lack of respect for each other 1% each
Poverty/ Hunger/Homelessness Taxes The media Unifying the country
Wage issues Wars/War (nonspecific)/Fear of war Welfare 0 5 10 15 20
25 30 35 Percent Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Public concern about the environment How much do you personally
worry about the quality of the environment? 100 No opinion 90 Not
at all 80 Only a little 70 Fair amountPercent 60 Great deal 50
Great deal + fair amount 40 30 20 10 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Environmental quality How would you rate the overall quality of
the environment in this country today? 100 90 80 70Percent 60
Excellent 50 Good 40 Only fair 30 20 Poor 10 No opinion 0 2001 2002
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Gallup
1/20/13
Trajectory of environmental quality Right now, do you think the
quality of the environment in the country as a whole is getting
better or worse? 80 Obama elected 70 60Percent 50 40 30 Getting
better Getting worse Same 20 No opinion 10 0 2001 2002 2003 2004
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Presidents performance on environment protection Do you think
the President is doing a good job or a poor job in protecting the
nations environment? Obama 90 elected 80 70Percent 60 50 40 30 20
Good job Poor job 10 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Participation in environmental movement Do you think of
yourself as an active participant in the environmental movement;
sympathetic towards the movement, but not active; neutral; or
unsympathetic? 60 50Percent 40 Sympathetic, b ut not active Neutral
30 Active 20 participant Unsympathetic 10 No opinion 0 2000 2001
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source:
Gallup 1/20/13
Publics opinion of the environmental movement All things
considered, do you think the environmental movement in this nation
has done more good than harm, or more harm than good? Definitely
more good than harm Probably more good than harm 50 Probably more
harm than good Definitely more harm than good No opinion 45 40
35Percent 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Environment vs. economy Do you think that protection of the
environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing
economic growth, or do you think economic growth should be given
priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent? 80 Gulf
oil 70 spill 60Percent 50 40 30 20 Protection of the environment
should be given priority 10 Economic growth should be given
priority 0 1990 1993 2003 1987 1984 2000 2011 1986 1989 1995 2005
2012 1997 1998 2008 1991 2001 2007 2010 1985 1994 2004 1988 1996
1999 2006 2009 1992 2002 Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Environment vs. energy supply Do you think protection of the
environment should be given priority, even at the risk of limiting
the amount of energy suppliessuch as oil, gas and coalwhich the
United States produces, or do you think the development of U.S.
energy supplies should be given priority, even if the environment
suffers to some extent? Gulf oil 70 spill 60Percent 50 40 30
Protection of the environmental should be given priority.
Development of U.S. energy supplies should be given priority. 20
Both/equally Neither/other 10 No opinion 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Governments role in environmental protection Do you think the
government is doing too much or too little to protect the
environment? 80 Too much 70 Too little About the right 60 amount No
opinionPercent 50 40 30 20 10 0 Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Environment versus economy in the West As part of efforts to
improve their state economy and generate jobs as quickly as
possible, some people have proposed reducing protections on land,
air and water that apply to major industries, including
construction and agriculture. Would you prefer your state to reduce
these protections or maintain them? 100 90 80Percent 70 60 50
Maintain Reduce 40 30 20 10 0 Colorado Utah Wyoming Montana New
Mexico Source: State of the Rockies Project 1/20/13
Strength of environmental laws: the West What is your feeling
about the current status of environmental laws? Laws strong enough,
but should be better enforced Laws, enforcement should be left as
they are Laws strong enough Laws too strict, need to be relaxed 0
10 20 30 40 50 60 Percent Source: State of the Rockies Project
1/20/13
SPECIFIC ISSUES 1/20/13
What environmental issues are most worrisome? How much do you
personally worry about the following environmental issues? 100
90Percent saying great deal or fair amount 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
0 Pollution of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs Pollution of drinking
water Nations supply of freshwater for household needs Air
pollution Extinction of plant and animal species Global warming
Source: Gallup 1/20/13
What environmental issues are most worrisome? How much do you
personally worry about the following environmental issues? 80
Pollution of lakes, rivers, and reservoirs 70 Air pollutionPercent
saying great deal 60 Global warming Pollution of drinking water 50
Extinction of plant and animal species 40 Maintenance of the
nations supply of fresh water for household needs 30 Loss of
tropical rainforests Contamination of soil and water 20 by toxic
waste Source: Gallup 1/20/13
What environmental issues are most worrisome? Pollution of
drinking water Contamination of soil and water by toxic waste
Pollution of lakes, rivers, and reservoirsMaintenance of freshwater
supply for household needs Loss of natural habitat for wildlife Air
pollution Loss of tropical rainforests Damage to the ozone layer
Extinction of plant and animal species Global warming Urban sprawl
and loss of open space Acid rain 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Percent
Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Most important environmental issue: CA What is the most
important environmental issue facing California? Dont know Other
Regulation/environmentalists Jobs/economy/budget Pollution in
general Loss of forests/wildfires Landfills/waste/recycling Global
warming/climate change Gas prices Energy, oil drilling Water
supply, drought Water pollution Air pollution 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
30% Source: Public Policy Institute of California 1/20/13
Worry over environmental issues: the West What areas are most
frequently expressed as environmental concerns? Air/air
pollution/clean air Water/water pollution clean water Water
supplies/drought Wildlife Pollution (general) Oil/gas drilling
Federal government Energy issues/general Public
lands/drilling/development on them Renewable energy/alternative
fuels 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Percent Source: State of the Rockies
Project 1/20/13
Seriousness of environmental problems: the West What is the
seriousness of the following environmental problems? Poorly-planned
growth and development Loss of family farms and ranches Pollution
of rivers, lakes and streams Air pollution and smogFunding cuts for
state parks, natural area protection, and water quality Loss of
habitat for fish and wildlife Inadequate water supplies Toxins and
pesticides in food and drinking water Extremely Serious Serious
Loss of natural areas The impact of mining The impact of oil and
gas and drilling Lack of access to public lands Global warming
Cliamte change Lack of access to lands and rivers for hunting and
fishing 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Source: State of the
Rockies Project 1/20/13
CLIMATE CHANGE 1/20/13
Understanding of global warming Thinking about the issue of
global warming, how well do you feel you understand this issue? 100
90 80 70Percent 60 No opinion 50 Not at all 40 Only a little Fair
amont 30 Great deal 20 Great deal + 10 fair amount 0 Source: Gallup
1/20/13
Anticipating the effects of global warming Which of the
following statements reflects your view of when the effects of
global warming will begin to happen? 70 60 50 Already begunPercent
Within a few years 40 Within your lifetime 30 Not within lifetime,
but affect future 20 Will never happen No opinion 10 0 Source:
Gallup 1/20/13
Causes of global warming Do you believe increases in the Earths
temperature over the last century are due more to the effects of
pollution from human activities or natural changes in the
environment that are not due to human activities? 70 60 50Percent
40 30 Human activities Natural causes 20 No opinion 10 0 2001 2002
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Gallup
1/20/13
Will global warming pose a serious threat? Do you think that
global warming will pose a serious threat to you or your way of
life in your lifetime? 80 Yes No 70 No opinion 60Percent 50 40 30
20 10 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Is global warming exaggerated in the news? Thinking about what
is said in the news, in your view is the seriousness of global
warming generally exaggerated, generally correct, or is it
generally underestimated? 60 Generally exaggerated Generally
underestimated 50 Generally correct No opinionPercent 40 30 20 10 0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Is the global warming threat exaggerated? Percentage saying
news of global warming is exaggerated, by party identification 70
60 50Percent 40 Republicans Independents 30 Democrats 20 10 0 2001
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Source: Gallup 1/20/13
Views of global warming: the West What are your views of global
warming? Is immediate action required? Concern greatly exagerrated
Enough evidence, take some action Global warming serious, need
immediate action Dont know enough, need more research 0 5 10 15 20
25 30 35 Percent Source: State of the Rockies Project 1/20/13
Support for regulating carbon emissions Do you support the EPA
regulation of carbon emissions? 80 70 60Percent 50 40 30 20 10 0
Colorado New Mexico Utah Montana Wyoming Source: State of the
Rockies Project 1/20/13
Concern over climate change impact: CA What do you perceive as
the most threatening impacts of climate change in California? 90 80
70 60Percent 50 40 30 20 10 0 Wildfires that are more Increased air
pollution Droughts that are more Increased flooding severe severe
Source: Public Policy Institute of California 1/20/13
CONSERVATION FUNDING 1/20/13
Key points: conservation funding 1) Federal funding In real
terms, the budgets of major environmental agencies have been fairly
steady over the past decade The distribution among different
programs also tends to remain relatively constant 2) Ballot
measures Open-space bonds and other conservation measures usually
pass at the polls but considerably fewer have been put to voters
during the economic downturn 3) Philanthropic The distribution of
funding by issue area changes significantly from year to year
Energy and climate-related funding saw big increases 1/20/13
FEDERAL BUDGET 1/20/13
How your federal tax dollars are spent Medicaid Low-income 8%
assistance 9% Net interest Unemployment payments compensation 7% 5%
Medicare 13% Veterans Affairs 3% Education 3% Law
enforcement/homeland security 2% Transportation 2% Health (not
Defense Medicare/Medicaid) 20% 2% Management of federal employees
and buildings 1% Social Security Environmental protection 21% and
natural resources 1% All others 3% Source: Third Way 1/20/13
Top federal programs related to the environment Electric
reliability organizations Ocean oil drilling regulation and natural
resource leases Energy efficient housing Lead hazard control and
healthy homesBureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and
Enforcement Natural Resources Conservation Service Efficient
vehicle development Mine Safety and Health Administration U.S.
Terroritories oversight Coal mine oversight and cleanup U.S.
Geological Survey Dams, powerplants and reservoirs Department of
Interior Bureau of Land Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Park Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Energy research, statisics and analysis Clean energy
U.S. Forest Service U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental
Protection Agency $0 $5 $10 $15 Billions Source: Third Way
1/20/13
EPA budget by major category 12 10 8Billions (2012 dollars)
Chemicals and pollution Enforcing environmental laws 6 Climate
change and air quality Cleaning up communities Protecting water 4 2
0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Source: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency 1/20/13
Forest Service: wildfires consume largest slice 10 9 8 7
6Billions (Dollars) 5 Supplemental/Emergency/Reserve Other
Appropriations 4 Land Acquisition: LWCF State and Private Forestry
3 Forest and Rangeland Research Capital Improvement and 2
Maintenance Mandatory Appropriations National Forest System 1
Wildland Fire Management 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 Source: U.S. Forest Service 1/20/13
Department of Interior budgets: 2003-2013 25 Other Offices of
the Solicitor and Inspector General 20 Minerals Management
Service/Ocean Energy Management Insular Affairs Office of Special
Trustee for American Indians 15 Office of Surface MiningBillions
(2012 dollars) Geological Survey Bureau of Reclamation 10 Bureau of
Land Management Department Wide Programs Fish and Wildlife Service
5 Departmental Management Bureau of Indian Affairs National Park
Service 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Source: Department of Interior 1/20/13
Funding for key agencies in Department of Interior 4.5 4 3.5
3Billions (2012 dollars) 2.5 National Park Service Fish and
Wildlife Service Bureau of Land Management 2 Bureau of Reclamation
Geological Survey 1.5 1 0.5 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 Source: Department of Interior 1/20/13
National Park Service 4.5 4 Land and Water Conservation Fund
Contract Authority Miscellaneous Trust Funds (Includes 3.5
Donations) Outer Continental Shelf Oil Lease Revenues 3 Spectrum
Relocation Activities Other Permanent AppropriationsBillions (2012
dollars) 2.5 Recreation Fee Permanent Appropriations 2 Land
Acquisition and State Assistance Construction 1.5 Historic
Preservation Fund Urban Park and Recreation Fund 1 National
Recreation and Preservation 0.5 Park Partnership Project Grants
Operation of the National Park System 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: National Park Service 1/20/13
US Bureau of Land Management Construction and access 1,600
Permanent operating funds Range improvements 1,400 Land acquisition
Oregon and California grant lands 1,200 Management of
lands/resourcesMillions (2012 dollars) 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Source: Bureau of
Land Management 1/20/13
US Fish and Wildlife Service 3.5 Construction 3 North American
wetlands conservation fund 2.5 Migratory bird conservation account
State and tribal wildlife grantsBillions (2012 dollars) 2 Land
acquisition 1.5 Cooperative endangered species conservation fund
Federal aid in wildlife 1 restoration Sport fish restoration 0.5
Resource management 0 Other 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2011 2012 2013 -0.5 Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1/20/13
Land and Water Conservation Fund 1200 1000 800 Receipts
received FundMillions (Dollars) 600 appropriations 400 200 0
Source: Department of Interior 1/20/13
BALLOT MEASURES 1/20/13
Conservation funding from ballot measures $180 $10 Conservation
funds approved Funds per measure $9 $160 $8 $140 $7 Billions (2012
dollars) Millions (2012 dollars) $120 $6 $100 $5 $80 $4 $60 $3 $40
$2 $20 $1 $- $- Source: Trust for Public Land 1/20/13
Conservation ballot measures: number and success 100.0% 250
Number of measures 90.0% Passage rate 80.0% 200 Number of Measures
Passed 70.0% 60.0% 150Percent 50.0% 40.0% 100 30.0% 20.0% 50 10.0%
0.0% 0 Source: Trust for Public Land 1/20/13
PHILANTHROPY 1/20/13
EGA member funding by issue area: 2007 International Trade
& Finance Population Material Consumption & Waste
Management Indigenous Populations/Communities Toxics Transportation
Environmental Health Environmental Justice Fresh Water/Inland Water
Ecosystems Sustainable Communities Sustainable Agriculture &
Food Systems Energy Climate/Atmosphere General/Multi-Issue
Biodiversity & Species Preservation Coastal & Marine
Ecosystem Terrestrial Ecosystems & Land-use 0 100 200 300
Millions (Dollars) Source: Environmental Grantmakers Association
1/20/13
EGA member funding by issue area: 2009 Population Material
Consumption & Waste Management Indigenous
Populations/Communities Toxics International Trade & Finance
Environmental Justics Environmental Health Sustainable Communities
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Transportation Fresh
Water/Inland Water Ecosystems Biodiversity & Species
Preservation Undefined Coastal & Marine Ecosystem Terrestrial
Ecosystems & Land-use Energy Climate/Atmosphere -50 50 150 250
Millions (Dollars) Source: Environmental Grantmakers Association
1/20/13
Change in funding: 2007 to 2009 Transportation Toxics
Terrestrial Ecosystems & Land-use Sustainable Communities
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Population Material
Consumption & Waste Management International Trade &
Finance Indigenous Populations/Communities
General/Multiple/Undefined Fresh Water/Inland Water Ecosystems
Environmental Justice Environmental Health Energy Coastal &
Marine Ecosystem Climate/Atmosphere Biodiversity & Species
Preservation -100 -50 0 50 100 Millions (Dollars) Source:
Environmental Grantmakers Association 1/20/13
Percent change in funding: 2007 to 2009 Transportation Toxics
Terrestrial Ecosystems & Land-use Sustainable Communities
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Population Material
Consumption & Waste Management International Trade &
Finance Indigenous Populations/Communities
General/Multiple/Undefined Fresh Water/Inland Water Ecosystems
Environmental Justice Environmental Health Energy Coastal &
Marine Ecosystem Climate/Atmosphere Biodiversity & Species
Preservation-100 -50 0 50 100 150 Percent Source: Environmental
Grantmakers Association 1/20/13
Conclusion Environmental issues rank low on the publics agenda,
but Americans remain concerned about many environmental problems,
especially pollution. While Americans often agree with
environmentalists policy goals, only about a fifth identify
themselves as active participants in the movement. Hostility toward
environmentalists appears to be rising and the Great Recession has
shifted public opinion away from environmental concerns over the
past few years Disasters, such as the BP oil spill, and
presidential elections can cause big changes in public opinion on
the environment but they may be short-lived. Budgets for federal
environmental agencies have remained relatively steady, but
philanthropic funding priorities may vary greatly from year to
year. Open-space bonds and other conservation measures usually pass
at the polls but considerably fewer have been put to voters during
the economic downturn. 1/20/13
Download more slides and other libraries ecowest.org Contact us
by e-mailing [email protected] 1/20/13
EcoWest advisors Jon Christensen, Adjunct Assistant Professor
and Pritzker Fellow at the Institute of the Environment and
Sustainability and Department of History at UCLA; former director
of Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford. Bruce
Hamilton, Deputy Executive Director for the Sierra Club, where he
has worked for more than 35 years; member of the World Commission
on Protected Areas; former Field Editor for High Country News.
Robert Glennon, Regents Professor and Morris K. Udall Professor of
Law and Public Policy, Rogers College of Law at the University of
Arizona; author of Water Follies and Unquenchable. 1/20/13
EcoWest advisors Jonathan Hoekstra, head of WWFs Conservation
Science Program, lead author of The Atlas of Global Conservation,
and former Senior Scientist at The Nature Conservancy. Timothy
Male, Vice President of Conservation Policy for Defenders of
Wildlife, where he directs the Habitat and Highways, Conservation
Planning, Federal Lands, Oregon Biodiversity Partnership, and
Economics programs. Thomas Swetnam, Regents Professor of
Dendrochronology, Director of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
at the University of Arizona, and a leading expert on wildfires and
Western forests. 1/20/13
Contributors at California Environmental Associates Mitch Tobin
Editor of EcoWest.org Communications Director at CEA Micah Day
Associate at CEA Matthew Elliott Contact us by e-mailing Principal
at CEA [email protected] Max Levine Associate at CEA Caroline
Ott Research Associate at CEA Sarah Weldon Affiliated consultant at
CEA 1/20/13