If you live in the United States you likely know an employee of the U.S. Federal Government as it is the largest employer in the United States with over 2 million civilian employees. Did you know that an obscure 1970 law called the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) mandates-albeit in broad terms-that every U.S. government agency has a responsibility to protect the environment? The most specific clause in this law mandates that federal agencies conduct environmental impact studies before proceeding with projects.
To comply with the law, U.S. government agencies have environmental impact sections and environmental officers. Some of these environmental officers are highly motivated and go above and beyond writing assessment reports. Some advocate for the latitude to take action to reduce emissions. Some have secured the installation of solar panels on federal buildings and would love the support to do more. Afterall, the NEPA also states that U.S. Federal Agencies should use “all practical means and measures to create and maintain conditions in which man and nature..can exist in productive harmony.”
Forward this Daily Difference to a friend who is a U.S. federal employee. Suggest they meet with the leader of their NEPA-mandated environmental management section. Suggest they tell their environmental officer about the Carbon Almanac so they have a tool to advocate for more support from agency leadership.