For 45 years, we've had a designated Earth Day.
This year, that day is Wednesday, and we have some things to show for our attention -- to pat ourselves on the back for.
And of course we still have much, much to do.
Even while some in our Congress continue to deny there is climate change, scientists and industry are finding good news about how the rest of us are coping with present and future threats. A recent study in Energy Policy found that the cost of batteries for home energy systems such as solar panels is declining. Another report by the Rocky Mountain Institute found within 10-15 years in some places, the most economical choice for home energy could be a solar plus battery system, according to the Washington Post. Add to that, a finding from a new study in Nature Climate Change that the cost of lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles is in steep decline -- 14 percent since 2007.
Maybe our congressmen should change their investments and lobby interests. Then they might not be so inclined to be climate change deniers, huh?
On the list of not-so-much progress, today marks five years since the BP disaster that killed 11 workers and turned into the worst U.S. environmental disaster in history as millions of barrels of oil poured into the ocean for 87 days.
Untold number of birds and sea creatures were killed, and the Gulf of Mexico still has closed beaches and fishing businesses -- dashed livelihoods in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Spill investigators blamed both BP's lax safety culture and a lack of government regulation and oversight.
Since the disaster, the government has enacted only two new drilling regulations (one on well casings in 2010 and another on the cementing of wells in 2012). A third regulation, regarding blowout preventers, was proposed just last week -- five years later. And, oh yeah, we're drilling more in even deeper water.
As for BP? Last March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lifted its suspension of BP from federal contracts. Five days later, the Department of Interior opened a new round of bids for oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico.
BP won 24 of the 31.
Earth Day comes once a year. We live on this earth every day, and we should think about what we do that affects our home more than just once every 365 days.