OPINION/COMMENTARY

Reports of Environmentalism's Death May Be Exaggerated

Environmentalism is in a funk these days. Not only has their favorite political party been voted out of office but there's plenty of dissention in the ranks. Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus's "The Death of Environmentalism" typifies this malaise. Although actually a call by a pair of "green-diaper-babies" for greater environmental extremism, this manifesto has been taken in the press at face value. Environmentalism, as the authors say, has become "just another interest group," lobbying Congress and the bureaucracy over obscure regulatory minutia while browbeating its supporters in the hinterlands for more contributions. Some of the reasons environmentalist has lost its steam were revealed in AEI's Index of Leading Environmental Indicators, released last week in its 10th anniversary edition, which was presented complete with a press conference and panel discussion. "Air pollution is at the lowest levels ever recorded," said Steve Hayward, a fellow at both AEI and the Pacific Research Institute, which co-sponsor the report. "Bald eagles, whales, ocean fishing stocks, forest and wetlands are coming back. More than 70 percent of Americans say they are happy with the environment." Reflecting the generally upbeat reports, general alarm over the continuing environmental crisis is also ebbing. "For the first time since polling began in 1984, the public puts economic growth and environmental protection almost on a par--49-44 percent in favor of the environment," reported Hayward. "As recently as 1999, people chose the environment over the economy by 70-23 percent."....

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