Environment
WPC's Center for the Environment brings balance to the environmental debate by promoting the idea that human progress and prosperity work in a free economy to protect the environment.
Publications
Rethinking Washington State Parks: How to Avoid Governor Inslee’s Plan to Close 60 State Parks
In his “Working Washington” report issued earlier this year, Gov. Jay Inslee proposes a range of new taxes to help increase funding for education and other state services, including Washington’s cash-strapped state parks system.[1] Without an additional $23.7 million in new funding, the governor warns that “up to 60 state parks could be closed year round or seasonally.”
Earth Day Exposes the Ironies of the Left’s Trendy Environmentalism
On April 22, in cities across America, some environmental activists will celebrate Earth Day, claiming only increased government control can protect the environment. Those celebrations will expose a couple ironies.
HB 1310: To Ban Plastic Grocery Bags
With the decision by a few Washington state cities to ban single-use plastic grocery bags, the state legislature is considering several bills to ban plastic bags or to impose a charge on consumers for their use. The primary justification for such a ban is to reduce the environmental impact of plastic bags. Some critics argue plastic bags increase the amount of plastic trash in the ocean and have a negative impact on marine wildlife.
Subsidizing Green Industry Is Like Propping Up a Kid’s Lemonade Stand
The Seattle Times published this column on October 10, 2012
As far as business models go, it is hard to beat the lemonade stand. The costs — lemons, cups, sugar — are paid by the parents. Kids have no overhead and receive all the profit.
Further, the young, cold-beverage proprietors have a built-in demand from neighbors willing to overpay for lemonade sold by kids.
Should Cities Ban Plastic Bags? No: The Harm Is Overblown
Across the world, cities are joining the latest environmental fad — banning plastic grocery bags. Activists think banning the bags is a simple and environmentally responsible approach.
Free Market Environmentalism That Works
Business Pulse Magazine published this column in its August 2012 issue.
When it comes to helping the environment, politicians like to tell us that without them, businesses would severely damage the environment – recklessly using resources in the search of profit. The simple truth, however, is that companies have been the most effective at finding ways to do more with less, reducing the number of resources we use and improving environmental sustainability.
The Trendy Drive to Ban Plastic Grocery Bags: Does It Really Help the Environment?
From Bellingham to Seattle to Issaquah, Washington cities are joining the latest environmental trend – banning plastic grocery bags. Concerned about the amount of plastic that reaches our oceans and its impact on wildlife, communities have decided that banning the bags is a simple and environmentally responsible approach.
But is it? What does the science say?
Banning the bags may actually be a net negative for the environment, yielding little environmental benefit while increasing carbon emissions and other impacts.
Puget Sound Partnership: Can Anybody Here Figure Out a Plan?
Crosscut published this column on July 12, 2012.
"Science — not emotion or expediency — is the most reliable guide to achieving success. The Partnership supports and relies on continuing scientific research to inform its decisions, and to measure what’s working."
- Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda 2012 Draft
Free Markets and the Environment
A summary of WPC’s 10th Annual Environmental Policy Conference
Key Findings
Something's Fishy with New Rules Written by Unseen Bureaucrats
Spokane's Spokesman-Review published this column on July 8, 2012.
