A few months ago, it seemed pretty clear how a President Obama might lead environmental policy: fast action on cap and trade for green house gas (GHG) emissions. With the economy now taking center stage, it is less certain how this scenario will play out. By watching the discussions regarding aid to the auto industry one can see how policy makers (if not the captains of industry themselves) are directly linking actions on the environment with boosting the national economy by tying financial assistance (and saved jobs) with more aggressive progress on automotive fuel economy. This theme is likely to be repeated as economic/environmental policies of the new administration take shape. Indeed, Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, held a press conference in late November in which she told of her plans to introduce two pieces of legislation in January 2009. The first would create a $15 billion grant program to promote clean energy (including "advanced" biofuels). The second would direct the EPA to develop a national cap and trade program. This second bill would basically supercede the Warner/Lieberman bill that was previously the focus of Senate discussions. She also announced that the first hearing that her committee would hold in 2009 would be entitled "How Fighting Global Warming is Good for the Economy and Will Create Jobs".

We can expect similar, aggressive action in the House of Representatives as Congressman Henry Waxman takes over as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Waxman is widely viewed as being more "pro" environment than the previous chairman, John Dingell. While concerns for the economy would tend to encourage legislators to be cautious in implementing regulations for GHG, the combination of successfully linking economic benefits with dealing with global warming and a newly emboldened team of legislators could mean quick action on GHG regulations. The auto executives have learned that this new economy/environment linkage means fewer executive jets.

Hopefully the rest of us can be more proactive in how we deal with aviation/environmental issues. Perhaps by being "carbon neutral"?