Here in the United States we are in what I consider an unprecedented era of massive deregulation. It seems like everyday we are hearing of executive orders, agency directives and proposed changes that are an all out assault not only on the environment but also have long-term impacts on our health and well-being. For many of us we are asking the question – At what cost?
We Cannot Rely on Good Judgment Alone
Regulations related to the environment exist because we have learned over time that we cannot rely on the good judgment and stewardship of businesses and individuals alone. There are those corporations who are genuinely concerned about protecting the environment and enact practices that support sustainability. Bravo to them. There are however, a multitude more who do not embrace this sensitivity to the world around them. Whether it be burning more and dirtier fossil fuels, destroying the ocean floor with unregulated deep sea mining and bottom trawling, or removing protections on marine mammals, there are many see regulations as an impediment to their profit levels.
I will admit that not all regulations are necessary or may be too restrictive. They are put in place as knee-jerk reactions to a specific incident without having the underlying data supporting the ruling. These rules need to be adjusted properly and based on sound scientific information and reasoning. However, deregulating with the stroke of a pen is not the answer. Obviously it is the simplest and most expedient method to remove the protections that were deemed necessary. For those who want to have regulations changed, there should be sound proof that the restriction is not needed and that removal will not cause harm. Deregulation simply for the goal of generating profits is simply wrong.
Last year, the US Supreme Court reversed the forty-year precident of Chevron Deference. I talked about that in Episode 1 of the Scuba Educational Alliance Ocean Podcast. Essentially, experts in federal agencies no longer have the ability to interpret ambiguous language in laws pertaining to their work in protecting the environment. Those decisions are now left in the hands of judges who may lack the requisite knowledge nor rely on scientific data. So now, essentially, where a judge leans on environmental issues will dictate whether to regulate or not. Today, however, we find ourselves in a situation where an administration’s agencies appear hostile to environmental protection coupled with a situation where judges make environmental decisions.
Is Congress Willing to Act?
There are examples of where some members of Congress are trying to address these issues (Farewell to Foam Act). However this bill has had no action since it was introduced in March 2025 and is sure to die without any action. That is not surprising. States like Connecticut are looking to ban plastic foam. We are hopeful here but nationally environmental regulation appears taboo. Whether it be Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements or Reinvigoration America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry the direction is deregulation.
I believe the planet is getting hotter, the oceans are being depleted, natural resources are being exploited and plastic pollution threatens everyone. The question remains – Deregulation at what cost?