It's a bit of a somber day as we kind of dive into the legacy
of former president Jimmy Carter who passed away today
at the incredible age of 100.
Yeah.
You know, while we mourn his loss,
there's so much to celebrate about his life,
especially his contributions to environmental conservation,
which are often overlooked.
Absolutely, and really remarkable how that passion
for the environment was kind of woven into his life
from his childhood, you know,
all the way to his impactful policies.
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, who could imagine a presidential pet alligator today,
but for young Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia,
that was just part of life.
Yeah.
You know, he was known for his ability
to identify every single bird in town.
Wow.
Really showed a deep connection with nature.
And that really did inform his whole worldview.
And it's so fascinating to see that boy from Plains,
you know, who knew the natural world so intimately,
grow up and champion conservation on this global scale.
And nowhere was that more evident than
in his fierce dedication to protecting Alaska's wilderness.
He actually had a map of Alaska hanging in the Oval Office,
just a constant reminder of his commitment
to preserving that vast landscape.
Yeah, that map wasn't just symbolic though.
In 1978, he used the Antiquities Act
to protect 56 million acres of Alaskan land.
And that move drew some sharp criticism,
but it really solidified his place
among these other conservation giants like Theodore Roosevelt.
He didn't stop there though.
In 1980, he signed the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act, and LCA for short,
which protected over 100 million acres,
effectively doubling the size of the National Park System.
Wow.
And the impact of that act is still felt today.
It is absolutely just last year,
Carter filed a legal brief against a proposed road
through the Eisenbeck National Wildlife Refuge,
which is a site protected by NLNCA.
And he saw it as just this threat
to the very ecosystem he fought so hard to protect.
You know, it's incredible how decades later
his commitment remains so strong,
but it's also kind of ironic, isn't it,
this attempt to safeguard the refuge
led to criticism from Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski,
who argued that Carter was out of touch
with the needs of the local community.
Yeah, it highlights the challenges inherent
in these conservation efforts, right?
The balance between preserving these natural landscapes
and addressing the needs of people who live there.
These are still challenges that we grapple with today.
Yeah, okay, so let's switch gears a little bit
and talk about Carter's approach to energy conservation.
Picture this, 1977, the US is facing energy shortages,
and President Carter wearing a cardigan sweater
is urging Americans to turn down their thermostats.
Ah, yes, the famous sweater speech.
Right.
It became the symbol of his presidency,
kind of ridiculed by some,
but it was a testament to his commitment
to energy efficiency.
And I think it's important to remember the context here.
You know?
Yeah.
The US was heavily reliant on foreign oil,
so the call for conservation wasn't coming from nowhere.
Right, and he wasn't just talking the talk.
He sold the presidential yacht,
unplugged the White House TVs, you name it.
He even inadvertently sparked
a cardigan sweater fashion trend.
Oh, wow, that's great.
But of course his energy legacy is far more complex
than just sweaters and thermostats.
On the one hand, you have them installing solar panels
on the White House, advocating for a 20% renewable energy mix
by the year 2000 and creating the Department of Energy.
So he had this incredible vision for a sustainable future.
He did.
On the other hand, he also promoted
domestic coal production,
which was a pragmatic decision driven by the desire
for energy independence at a time
when the US was feeling vulnerable.
But it also had these unintended consequences
that are contributing to the very climate challenges
that we're facing today.
It's almost a cautionary tale, isn't it?
Economist Philip Verledger,
who worked in the Carter administration,
estimated that his coal policies actually resulted
in five more years worth of CO2 emissions at 2000 levels.
It is a reminder that even well-intentioned actions
can have these ripple effects
that go way beyond their initial scope.
Progress is not always linear,
and it's important to examine these historical decisions
with a critical eye.
So you see this mix of progressive vision
and pragmatic decision making in his energy policy.
But when you look at the arc of his life,
you see this unwavering commitment to renewable energy
that really shines through.
You see it in 2017 when he leased land
in his hometown of Plains for a solar power project,
which now provides half of the town's electricity.
That's amazing.
It's this beautiful full circle moment
that really speaks volumes about his enduring belief
in a sustainable future.
He even said at the dedication event,
this site will be as symbolically important
as the 32 panels that we put on the White House.
Wow.
He clearly understood the power of symbolism
and leading by example.
It's incredibly powerful
and it leads us to another fascinating chapter
in his environmental legacy,
his work on the international stage.
It's interesting to think about how Carter's presidency
really coincided with this growing global awareness
of environmental issues.
The 1970s saw the emergence of international agreements
on things like pollution and endangered species,
and even the very early stages of climate change discussions.
It seems like he had this understanding
that environmental challenges transcended borders,
that we're all kind of connected in this web of life.
How did that translate into action on the world stage?
Well, one of the most significant examples
is his involvement with the United Nations
Environment Program, UNEP for short.
Right.
It was established in 1972
and became this focal point
for global environmental diplomacy.
And Carter was a strong supporter of their mission
throughout his presidency.
So he wasn't just focused on domestic issues.
He was looking to collaborate
with the international community to find solutions.
Were there any specific achievements
we can point to in that realm?
Well, he played a key role in the negotiation
of the Convention on International Trade,
an endangered species of wild flora and fauna,
also known as cites.
Okay.
This landmark treaty was signed in 1973
and went into effect in 1975,
and it aimed to regulate the international trade
of endangered plants and animals to prevent their extinction.
I'm familiar with cites.
It's still a cornerstone
of global conservation efforts today.
It's remarkable to think that Carter had a hand
in its creation, demonstrating his commitment
to protecting biodiversity on a global scale.
What other international initiatives did he champion?
Well, he was also a vocal advocate
for addressing what was called transboundary pollution,
particularly acid rain,
which was a major environmental concern in the late 1970s.
Right.
Acid rain, which was caused by sulfur dioxide
and nitrogen oxide emissions from industrial activities,
was damaging forests and waterways
across North America and Europe.
That's a perfect example of how these problems
don't respect political boundaries.
What steps did Carter take
to address that particular issue?
Well, he worked with Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau,
to establish a joint commission
to study the problem and come up with solutions.
And this collaboration ultimately led to the signing
of the Canada United States Air Quality Agreement in 1980,
which was a precursor
to later international agreements on acid rain.
So he was forging these partnerships,
recognizing that cooperation was key
to tackling these environmental challenges
that extended beyond any single nation's borders.
He was really emphasizing that we're all in this together,
wasn't he?
He was.
And that message resonates even more strongly today
as we face the global threat of climate change.
While his presidency predated the widespread recognition
of climate change as the existential threat it is today,
his actions laid some of the groundwork
for future international climate action.
It's fascinating to think about that.
How did his early focus on energy conservation
and renewable energy tie into that emerging
climate change discourse?
Well, while climate change wasn't explicitly
on the agenda at that time,
his push for energy efficiency
and the development of alternative energy sources
can be seen as early steps
toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
So in a way he was ahead of his time advocating
for solutions that would later become central
to addressing climate change.
It's almost as if he had this intuitive understanding
of the interconnectedness of energy
and the environment and global wellbeing.
He did, and that was reflected in his creation
of the Department of Energy,
which while initially focused on energy independence
has evolved to play a crucial role in climate science
and the development of clean energy technologies.
It's remarkable how some of these initiatives
launched decades ago
continue to shape our approach
to environmental challenges today.
His legacy really extends far beyond
that single term in office.
It does, and his international efforts,
particularly his focus on collaborative solutions
and his early recognition of the interconnectedness
of environmental issues offer valuable lessons for us
as we navigate an increasingly complex
and interconnected world.
It's also worth noting that his environmental legacy
wasn't without its complexities.
We discussed his support for domestic coal production earlier,
a decision driven by the energy realities of the time,
but one that had lasting environmental consequences.
Yeah, that's an important point.
It highlights the challenge of balancing competing priorities
and making tough choices in the face of uncertainty.
It also underscores the need for constant reevaluation
and adaptation as our understanding
of environmental issues evolves.
Speaking of adaptation, his decision to install
those solar panels on the White House, while symbolic,
was also a bold statement
about the potential of renewable energy.
And even though they were later removed,
those panels left an indelible mark on history.
They did that gesture,
captured the imagination of people worldwide.
It signaled a willingness to embrace new technologies
and envision a different energy future.
And in a way, it foreshadowed the resurgence of solar power
that we're seeing today.
It's like planting a seed back then
that took root and flourished decades later.
It speaks to the long-term impact of visionary leadership
and the power of ideas to transcend time.
And speaking of visionary leadership,
we can't overlook Carter's post-presidency work
through the Carter Center,
where he continued to champion environmental causes,
along with promoting peace and human rights
on a global scale.
Right.
His commitment to making a difference
didn't end when he left office.
It became a defining characteristic of his life.
So let's delve into that final chapter of his story
in part three of our deep dive.
You know, it's truly inspiring
how President Carter's dedication to service
went far beyond his time in the White House.
He and Rosalind really embarked on this remarkable journey
with the Carter Center,
tackling some of the world's toughest challenges.
Yeah.
And what's fascinating is how they approach these issues
with this blend of diplomacy, compassion,
and this very practical get things done attitude.
You know, it's not just about talking.
They were deeply involved
in some incredible initiatives on the ground.
Yeah, their work on global health
immediately comes to mind.
You know, they were instrumental in the fight
against guinea worm disease,
a parasitic infection that once affected millions
across Africa and Asia.
Absolutely.
They helped to dramatically reduce the number of cases
through education, community-based interventions,
just relentless dedication to eradicating this disease.
They brought it down from millions of cases
in the 1980s to just a handful in recent years.
That is an incredible achievement.
And it shows that even the most challenging problems
could be tackled with focused effort and collaboration.
Right.
What else?
And their work goes beyond disease eradication too.
The Carter Center has also been active
in promoting democracy and human rights,
working on conflict resolution
and supporting agricultural development
in some of the most difficult regions around the world.
It's like they were drawn
to these complex interconnected issues
where there's no easy fix,
but where their unique approach
could really make a difference.
You hit the nail on the head.
They saw that interconnectedness.
You know, understanding that promoting peace
and human rights could create this more stable foundation
for addressing environmental challenges and vice versa.
It all comes back to that holistic approach
that President Carter embodied,
understanding that we can't separate environmental issues
from social justice, economic development, you know,
global peace.
And that perspective is even more relevant today
as we face these interconnected challenges
of climate change, poverty, conflict migration.
Mm-hmm.
President Carter has been a strong voice
for that kind of integrated thinking,
reminding us that the challenges are complex,
but that shouldn't make us give up.
We need to be more creative, more collaborative,
and never stop looking for solutions.
And he's a powerful example
of how leadership extends beyond political office, you know.
It can take many forms from grassroots activism
to philanthropy, to just living a life guided by compassion
and a commitment to making the world a better place.
So as we reflect on President Carter's life and legacy,
what stands as it is his spirit of service
and unwavering belief in the power of collective action.
And he showed us that even when facing
these seemingly insurmountable challenges,
there's always hope, there's always a way forward
if we're willing to work together
and never give up on building a more just
and sustainable world.
That's a beautiful way to sum it up
and perhaps the best way we can honor him
is to carry forward that legacy of service,
embrace his holistic vision,
and never lose sight of the interconnectedness of our world
and our shared responsibility for its well-being.
Well said.
So as we wrap up this deep drive
into Jimmy Carter's life and legacy,
we are left with a sense of gratitude for his contributions
and a renewed sense of purpose.
He showed us what's possible
when we combine vision, compassion,
and a tireless dedication to service.
What a legacy.