With Earth Day approaching, it is essential to consider the state of environmental policy in the United States. The ENST/POSC335 U.S. Environmental Politics course at Colgate University, taught by Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Andrew Pattison, explores environmental policies, individual action and the impact that education has on students learning about environmental issues.
When teaching this course, Pattison aims to ensure that students understand the political challenges regarding the environment, including how complex creating viable solutions is.
“Climate change is a problem that we’re not addressing very well,” Pattison said.
Pattison’s course explores not only the scientific concerns of climate change but also the institutions and systems that have the power to make impactful decisions. According to Pattison, one of the largest obstacles is the policymaking process in the United States.
“It’s one thing to not support more climate legislation. It’s another thing to revoke what little stuff we had,” Pattison said.
Pattison also discussed the overall impact and importance of Earth Day. While he mentioned that Earth Day is a symbolic event, Pattison suggested that it still plays a large role in shaping public discourse.
“It is symbolic, but I wouldn’t say it’s just symbolic,” Pattison said. “You build and maintain coalitions over time through events like that.”
Beyond discussing policy, the class examines the individual’s role in environmental action. The students feel the course has influenced and altered how they view sustainability, including junior Sophia Montero.
“[Pattison’s course] has introduced me to just how many environmental issues are affected by policy and policy actors,” Montero said.
Montero highlighted how specific topics, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, stood out to her throughout the semester.
“It was interesting to see how [their] role changes with different administrations as well as the vast amount of responsibilities,” Montero said.
These topics helped the students understand the crucial connection between political concepts and real-world impacts.
Junior Avery Isaac said that this course made her reflect on her daily routines.
“It has made me aware that small acts of protest and advocating for policy change at the local level can lead to big changes,” Isaac said.
While each action is small, the class discussions reflect how these small differences fit into a larger change. The larger picture for this course, though, is how governments and corporations influence those crucial policy changes.
“This class has taught me that we have made big strides in the past few decades … [by] passing meaningful legislation,” Isaac said.
The need for systemic change mirrors a large challenge for environmental policymaking, as reflected in the course. Pattison emphasized that even though systemic change is crucial, the main push for political action lies in public engagement.
“You need to pick an issue that matters to you … learn about it, learn who the change makers are and then show up,” Pattison said.
Pattison also stressed the urgency of some issues, specifically climate change.
“The longer we wait, the harder it will become, and the more people that will die,” Pattison said.
With Earth Day coming up, Pattison and students in U.S. Environmental Politics warn readers that awareness is beneficial, but not enough. Combining education and policy action is the only way to address and combat environmental issues.
The course exemplifies that environmental problems are not just scientific concerns, but political ones that demand agreement and motives throughout society.
“We’re running out of easy problems,” Pattison said.
