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Abstract: The paper acknowledges the political nature of environmental protection and climate change in the United States and the grassroots demand for environmental protection as a phase of economic development. It argues that grassroots support is more reliable than top-down authority in ensuring a clean environment as it reflects the desire for local control and the utilization of local human resources. Young people play a vital role in finding grassroots solutions in their respective communities. For instance, implementing a top-down policy of legally-binding carbon taxes worldwide might be desirable in theory, but in reality, leads to political stalemate. The more realistic and efficient solution is to substitute pollution-prone technology that is currently in use with renewable and sustainable technology. Technological change brings about economic change, in turn fostering social change in perceptions and values, strengthening political support at the local level for environmental protection. This is more durable than top-down authoritarian support for environmental protection that vests decision-making power in a single political leader or in-crowd of government officials. Without grassroots support, the transition to a renewable resource-based economy that has a sustainable relationship with the environment cannot take place.
The environment has evolved as a political issue, and the grassroots demand for environmental protection is a phase of economic development. Technology is driving the world's economy to be more brain-based and less so on manual labor. The changing economy has left industrial and agricultural workers behind, and their resentment has fueled populist, nativist, and anti-globalization politics. Nevertheless, as the new economy takes shape and new employment opportunities become available, post-industrial workers, spending less time and less national GDP on basic necessities, start becoming interested in physical wellness. That includes environmental protection. At that point, community-based grassroots support for environmental protection becomes dominant. In the United States, support for local air, water, and toxic control is well over 70 percent in all public opinion polls. Finally, grassroots support for health and security is more reliable than top-down authority in ensuring a clean environment.
In sum, technological change fosters social change and changes perceptions and values; this, in turn, becomes a dependable source of political support for environmental protection. It is more durable than top-down authoritarian support for environmental protection that is dependent on the...