Planet Of The Year: What The U.S. Should Do

The U.S. has made significant strides in pollution control and energy conservation during the past 15 years, but the country remains the world's biggest user of natural resources and a major despoiler of the global environment. Because of the size of its economy, the U.S. consumes one-fourth of the world's energy each year. Yet, for a given amount of energy, the U.S. produces less than half as much economic output as Japan and West Germany. Meanwhile, the commitment to reduce pollution has flagged. Although the U.S. accounts for less than 5% of the global population, it generates 15% of the world's sulfur dioxide emissions and 25% of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. Each American produces an average of 3 1/2 lbs. of trash a day.

When energy was expensive, Americans treated it that way. Between 1973 and 1985, when the price of oil surged, U.S. per capita energy consumption fell 12% and the average amount of goods and services generated per person rose 17%. In the past few years, however, energy use has risen as the price has declined. Americans, who own more than 135 million cars, or about one-third of the world's total, have been driving more and have resumed their love affair with large gas-guzzling cars.

Because of its sheer size and influence, the U.S. must be in the vanguard of the effort to solve the earth's environmental crisis. Even before international bodies come up with global strategies, the U.S. can take many steps, unilaterally and immediately.

1. Raise the Gasoline Tax

A gallon of unleaded gasoline, which costs roughly 95 cents, is nearly a third cheaper now than it was eight years ago. When inflation is taken into account, the price decline is closer to 50%. Raising the federal gasoline tax by 50 cents per gal., from 9 cents to 59 cents, over the next five years would renew drivers' interest in fuel conservation.

2. Toughen Auto Fuel-Efficiency Requirements

Federal regulations require that automakers produce fleets of cars with an average fuel efficiency of 26 m.p.g. The Government originally set a fuel- efficiency target of 27.5 m.p.g. for 1986, but the Reagan Administration allowed the car companies to postpone that goal. The new Administration should institute the 27.5 m.p.g. requirement and then gradually raise it to 45 m.p.g. by the year 2000.

3. Encourage Waste Recycling

The Federal Government should set national goals and standards for recycling programs but leave their implementation to state and local agencies. As an immediate first step, the President and Congress should require federal agencies to increase steadily their use of recycled paper products.

4. Promote Natural-Gas Usage

Far more abundant than anyone thought a decade ago, natural gas is the cleanest hydrocarbon fuel available. But in many cases, utilities that wish to switch from coal-fired power generation to gas-fired must go through a lengthy process to obtain a federal permit. Such regulations, which inhibit the increased use of natural gas, should be eased.

5. Encourage Debt-for-Nature Swaps

The U.S. opposes all government-subsidized debt relief for Third World countries. At a minimum, federal regulators should encourage U.S. banks to participate in programs that reduce debt in exchange for steps taken by debtor nations to protect tropical rain forests and other resources.