Student leaders in the University of Tampa’s Environmental Protection Coalition (EPC) have been taking a stand against pollution by buying sulfur dioxide rights in the United States Environmental Protection Association’s annual Clean Air Market Auction.
The UT EPC in coordination with the Tri-Beta (BBB) Biology Honor Society is making a noticeable difference with their possession of these rights. Currently, they have accumulated 774 tons of sulfur dioxide credits, which is more than any other academic or non-profit organization in the country at this time.
According to the EPA’s website, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides are air pollutant notorious for contributing to acid rain. By bidding in the Clean Air Market Auction, the group is participating in a Cap and Trade program that provides a mandatory cap on harmful emissions from companies that produce them in plants and factories. Started in 1995, this market-regulating system gives companies allowances based on their past fuel consumption and their individual emissions rate. When companies go over their allowances, anyone including school groups, non-profits and even private citizens can buy them in the trading system, ensuring that the companies do not turn to emitting more tons of pollutant than the limit set in the EPA’s Clean Air Act. The auction is held annually at the end of March.
By allowing a small portion of the total allowances to be up for auction each year, the EPA strives to push for more economic efficiency and reduce pollution overall. Kealy McNeal, a junior environmental science major and president of BBB said, “I believe the amount of pollution rights we were able to obtain in the EPA auction will not only reduce the effects of acid rain statewide, but the Tampa Bay area as well. The Tampa area is very reliant on the Tampa Bay and other local bodies of water and with less acid rain pollutants in the water, the Tampa Bay will be much healthier.” Acid rain, which a direct result of the combustion of fossil fuels that produce sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides, can have devastating effects, such as damage to plant life, erosion of buildings and health risks that could lead to heart and lung disorders.
Kristine Koran, junior environmental science major and president of the UT EPC, believes this is a problem in our own backyard. “The emissions Tri-Beta and EPC bought will reduce the amount of pollutants that enter our atmosphere, reducing ocean acidification creating a healthier habitat for our threatened marine life. I believe we can make a difference and prevent further endangered animals from going extinct.”
Every year, UT EPC/BBB receives funding from Student Government and holds fundraisers such as Beta fish sales and bamboo plant sales to raise profit for this auction.
In total, the organization paid $1,000.05, equivalent to about 0.012 percent of total allowances in 2011. Though this number may be small, Dr. Dan Huber, advisor to the UT EPC says it is not insignificant. “All too often people within our society have the opinion that ‘I’m just one person…what difference can I make?’” This is unfortunately a rationale for both unsustainable and sustainable behavior. Regarding sustainable behavior, people use the same logic to justify not doing the right thing. We’re trying to reverse this logic in our society by showing that individuals can make a difference, especially when they team up with like-minded individuals.”
Dory Estrada can be reached at destrada@spartans.ut.edu.