There are many ways to become a better steward of the Earth.
The 50th anniversary of Earth Day is this week.Newt Gingrich was an environmental studies professor at West Georgia College when I was a child.During the second Earth Day in 1971, our family picked up trash on the side of the road.We hiked, canoed and camped at the swamp.
The "Keep America Beautiful" commercial was produced for the first Earth Day.There was a depiction of an American Indian crying over the pollution in our country.The actor was not an Indian or crying.His message was that we should care for the land we live in.
Many people think this belief is liberal, but I think it's biblical.If you believe that God created the Earth and that humans were supposed to take care of it, then the question of how we should interact with the environment becomes a matter of stewardship.The Earth was given to us by God.
We have to think about the best approach if we want to take on this challenge.How do you solve a problem?Is it possible to solve it by subtracting and controlling, or by adding and incentivizing?Does the approach matter?I think it does.It's human nature to try to control, which can lead to limiting options, limiting actions and negative results.Incentivizing and building on positive actions can provide more options, energy and possibilities.
What does this mean for the environment?Democrats are pushing a Green New Deal that pushes government control as the solution but also adds guarantees of basic income and health care coverage.The Democrats think that government will solve our problems.
In my recent book, "Our Broken America: Why Both Sides Need to Stop Talking and Start Listening," I wrote that I understand the intellectual appeal of government control, but that it contains two key flaws.Government is neither efficient nor effective, and when government attempts to overcome its inefficiencies, it does so by taking away people's freedom.
If the Democrats' approach of control is not the answer, what can we do to be better stewards of the Earth?A study led by Jean-Francois Bastin titled "The Global Tree Restoration Potential" was published last year.
It was based on a quantitative analysis that concluded tree restoration is more powerful than all of the other climate change solutions proposed, according to Thomas Crowther, a co-author.
The authors used 80,000 high-resolution satellite images to create a map showing where trees could be planted.A trillion trees are the goal.The goal is inspiring, requires positive action, and its impact would be added.
The support of the United States was signaled by President Donald Trump in January.The United States will continue to show strong leadership in restoring, growing and better managing our trees and our forests, Trump said.The Trillion Trees Act was introduced in the House of Representatives.The act would encourage innovative building practices with a sustainable building tax credit, according to co-sponsor Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark.33 Republicans and three Democrats sponsored the bill.
The bill has been put on hold due to the focus on the COVID-19 Pandemic and the economic relief packages.Once we get through this crisis, we need to get outside and connect with nature.