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Advocating for Change: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing to Elected Officials

     With all of the drastic policy changes—environmental and otherwise—happening in America right now, it is all too easy to succumb to a “doom and gloom” mindset and feel completely powerless in the face of it all. However, it is important to not lose sight of the fact that, as Americans, we have the privilege of living within a democracy. This means that we have the ability to advocate and fight for any and all changes we would like to see in our country.      One simple and effective way to advocate is by writing to your elected officials. Recently, I did exactly this, contacting my city council members about litter issues in my home city (Seattle) and reaching out to U.S. Senators and Representatives in Washington State about strengthening plastic pollution prevention in the country.      The process is easier than you might think, and it is accessible to anybody who wants to do it. If there are any issues i...
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Investigating Environmental Cases, Part 1: EPA v. Diamond Alternative Energy

     Amidst the tumultuous political climate our country is currently experiencing, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finds itself caught in the middle of a few prominent legal battles involving the Clean Air Act (CCA). According to the agency, the CCA “defines EPA’s responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation’s air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer.” One notable case is the EPA v. Diamond Alternative Energy lawsuit, which arose from a dispute over whether or not it is legal for the EPA to—through the CCA—grant California the ability to set state-specific emission standards for their vehicles. Case Background      The situation began in 2012 when California applied for a waiver to implement a state-wide policy known as the Advanced Clean Cars Program (ACCP) (Oyez). This program is an extension of the CCA and allows the state to set emission standards for their vehicles that are stricter than federal standards...
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