The Environment and
Federal Policy in the
Twenty-First Century

Debates over environmental issues accelerated at the start of the twenty-first century. The federal government has struggled to articulate a coherent environmental policy, even as politicians, scholars, activists, and writers have all recognized that increasing globalization and scientific evidence of climate change have made environmental questions much more urgent. At the highest level, Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have examined the ways in which the environment and the economy are interwoven (although they have come to different conclusions). The United States experienced two catastrophic events—Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the BP oil spill in 2010—that led to additional questions about the government’s preparedness to deal with environmental problems. Hurricane Katrina in particular demonstrated that environmental distress disproportionately affects poor and minority populations. Global warming, oil prices, and alternative energy have all become major political flashpoints.

The following documents shed light on these ongoing debates regarding the government and the environment. Like most issues presented in the final chapter of the book, federal environmental policy remains in flux. As you read, consider the factors that have brought environmental concerns to the forefront of American politics during the last decade.