Unemployment and Environmental Protection

Environmental protection almost always takes a hard hit during economic recessions.  News abounds around the country of how, especially in energy policy, the gains of the past few years have been offset by cheap gas and a depressed economy. A comparison of how unemployment correlates with attitudes on the environment and the economy confirms this.  A January 2009 Pew study shows this, with the number of people supporting environmental protection as their top policy concern greatly decreasing over the past couple years:

When unemployment goes up, people become less concerned about the environment and more concerned about strengthening the economy.  When the years are good, however, the public appears to be more favorably disposed towards environmental protection.

This is also shown in a March 2008 Gallup Poll.  While somewhat dated, the trend still holds, and no doubt will be excentuated when 2009 data for the question is made available:

The public at large perceives that economic growth and environmental protection cannot be pursued at the same time.  Just this week, a Rasmussen poll confirmed this, with 46% of the American public believing the two to be irreconciliable, and only 32% believing the two to be reconcilable.

This does not have to be the case, especially for watershed restoration, and the greater restoration economy. These activities employ people right here and now, develop small businesses that are vital to our country's economy, help restore the natural infrastructure which is vital to continued economic growth, and protect ecosystems of concern. Watershed restoration truly is a win-win situation. This economic downturn does not have to mean that conservation is put on hold. Rather, new areas of conservation such as restoration help our country emerge from the recession. Many of our leaders in Congress have realized this, and hopefully the American public eventually will as well.