Patricia DeMarco Ph.D.

"Live in harmony with nature."

Category Archives: climate action


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The Benefits of Cities Living in Harmony with Nature

By Patricia M. DeMarco, Mayor of the Borough of Forest Hills, PA

As extreme weather fluctuations and higher heat bring health concerns to the headlines, cities look for ways to adapt for a more resilient approach. Once defined only by skyscrapers and concrete canyons, many modern cities seek to bring nature into the cityscape to improve the health and quality of life of the people who live, work and play in urban environments. Natural landscapes bring many benefits to urban living, including health benefits, economic value of property, and cultural distinction.

Ecosystem services support all life on earth.[1] As people have settled into larger urban environments, we have become more removed from the essential services of the living earth that comprise our life support system. Fresh water, oxygen-rich air, fertile ground and the millions of species that make up the interconnected web of life come from the ecosystem services of the earth. Evolved over millions of years, the four categories of ecosystem services support life on earth as we know it.

These gifts of the living earth operate automatically. The supporting services include nutrient cycling for carbon, nitrogen, water, oxygen and phosphorous; soil formation from the action of millions of micro-organisms breaking down detritus; primary production includes energy conversion by photosynthesis to create biomass and release oxygen; and habitat provision which establishes living conditions specific to various regions of the planet. These services feed into all the other ecosystem services. The provisioning services generate primary food production, fresh water, wood and fiber and biomass- based fuels. The regulating services are the control systems of the earth that shape climate by storing carbon and the temperature through the thermohaline circulation of the oceans; flood and erosion control through wetlands and tree roots; water purification through wetlands; and disease control through predator/prey relationships in natural ecosystems. Finally, the cultural services provide spiritual and aesthetic values to human experience, often called biophilia- the natural feelings of being connected to nature that makes people want to be in the “outdoors” for vacations at the beach or in parks.

These services do not usually “count” in computations of the Gross Domestic Product or the economic valuation of transactions. However, they are priceless contributors to many aspects of daily life that people take for granted, such as having fresh water or pollination for agricultural products, or natural fibers like cotton, linen, bamboo and hemp. Note that all of these ecosystem services are circular in regenerating and replenishing the elements of each system, all driven primarily from the sun as the primary source of energy, temperature gradients and seasonal cycles.

Our Life Support System is Under Stress. Human activities, especially since the Industrial Revolution, have brought stress to the balanced ecosystems that have sustained life as we know it.Resource extractionfrom miningfor fuels and minerals, industrial scale farming, and land use for highways, buildings and parking lots has stressed the environment.  Also, the rapid acceleration of burning fossil resources for fuel is reversing in decades the millions of years of biological process that increased the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere and sequestered carbon in coal, petroleum, and natural gas. The modern surge in use of synthetic materials, especially plastics which are derived from petrochemicals, has also stressed the natural ecosystems in many ways, especially as the population of the earth has continued to grow, and more countries adopt a heavy consumer-oriented economy. Hyper-consumption spreading worldwide adds to the stress on our natural life support system.

Pennsylvania’s Constitution Article 2 Section 27 states: “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

However, Pennsylvania bears the scars of hundreds of years of reliance on extractive industries.

  • Abandoned mined lands estimated at 288,000 acres[2]
  • 5,500 miles of streams and rivers polluted[3]
  • Air quality ranked 2nd worst in US[4] 

It is our ethical and moral obligation to preserve and restore the ecosystems of the living Earth for now and for the future. It is our duty to preserve the right for life to exist for the people we serve in our communities, and for future generations whole lives will be shaped by the decisions we make today.  We cannot legislate the laws of chemistry and physics nor the biologic system responses to changes in the environment. But we can adjust our laws, and our way of life, to be more in harmony with the natural systems we depend on. The time for wanton exploitation of the natural world is over!

Pathways Forward
We who govern at the local level are in a good position to shape a pathway to a better future. We are no longer facing a gradual transition but rather a transformation in our relationship to the natural world that supports us.

This transformation from an extractive civilization based on fossil-fuels to a regenerative civilization based on renewable resources is not a technical problem but rather a moral and ethical problem. Do we have the courage to shift the base of our economy to systems that can be sustained for the next generations, or will we persist in the destruction of our life support system for now, and for generations to come?

Our current situation has been built on a primary premise of economic drivers as the principal, sometimes the exclusive, basis for policy decisions. As a result, cultural values such as history, social services, public education, public health, public amenities such as parks and nature preserves as well as environmental values such as clean air, fresh water, fertile ground and preserving the biodiversity of species have diminished consideration in public policy decisions. This situation cannot be sustained for decades into the future without seriously compromising the quality of life for everyone on earth. The biggest shift from an extractive to a sustainable system involves a change in priorities to re-balance, economic, environmental and cultural values to be more equal in weight for decision making on policy.

Regenerative thinking provides a framework to support this adjustment. Regenerative thinking looks beyond the instant gratification of the next quarterly report, but rather considers the life cycle implications, and the associated impact on environmental and cultural values over time. [5] This is especially relevant in local government decisions, for example when determining what kind of a public building to invest taxpayer dollars in, or what land use decisions to make for preservation vs development. Fortunately, regenerative solutions are available, proven and cost-effective.Cities can be catalysts for living in harmony with Nature. The inherent human affinity for nature is called “Biophilia” and has been recognized as a movement throughout the world as a way to improve the quality of life for urban areas.[6][7] Incorporating nature into urban environments brings many benefits.

Renewable Energy Systems conserve and restore resources. Technology costs in renewable energy systems are dropping sharply.[8] Demand is increasing for efficiency and clean energy solutions. More supportive national policies (Inflation Reduction Act & Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) showed the potential for effective adoption of renewable energy resources at scale.[9] Investment in renewable infrastructure is increasing in states, public institutions, and in private investments, in spite of federal policy changes. The Borough of Forest Hills designed and built a net-zero energy borough building, and now also has solar on five additional buildings to save energy costs and have more efficient operations. The capital costs the solar were administered through a Guaranteed Energy Savings Program of the PA Department of Conservation and natural Resources.

Prevent Pollution by designing materials through Green Chemistry principles that are benign by design.[10] This process reduces the inherent hazard from things like plastics and forever chemicals rather than limiting our exposure to toxic substances through regulation. Substituting biological materials like hemp, bamboo, algae and fungi for petrochemicals can shift the production to less environmentally and health damaging materials.

Circular Materials Management shifts our economy away from using raw materials to make products designed to be replaced rapidly.[11] Instead, materials and products can be designed to be made in America and made to last as durable goods. Also design features can include reclaiming raw material for re-use or repurposing, rather than to become trash. Ideally, circular materials management using renewable resources as feedstocks can create an economy of higher value with much less waste.

Reduce urban stress. Urban living often brings social stress, a sense of physical threats from crime, traffic safety and adverse environmental exposures associated especially with noise and air pollution, and heat island stress. Adding urban tree cover contributes to more vigorous physical activity among adults aged 18 to 24 as well as reduced obesity, better general health, less asthma and better social cohesion in communities.[12] Forest Hills has been a USA Tree City since 1975. Our 2,800 urban Trees contribute an estimated $19.7 Million in cumulative asset value.[13]

Calm traffic. Using natural landscapes and plantings as part of a Complete Streets policy helps to calm urban traffic and improve the quality of experience for pedestrians. This was especially effective when native plants and shrubs were used as well as incorporating water features such as fountains and ponds as part of bioswales for stormwater management.[14]

Provide economic value. Studies completed by the US Department of Agriculture show that urban tree canopies deliver over $18.3 billion in annual environmental and economic value.[15] This value is derived from shade that reduces cooling demand, health improvements from absorbing pollutants in the air, and sequestering carbon in trees.

Mature trees act as critical infrastructure thatboost property values, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and improve public health.[16]

Green Infrastructure can contribute to stormwater management by diverting storm surges into bioswales and rain gardens. Especially if these are planted with native species, they can also support birds and pollinators within the urban environment. The Forest Hills Borough Building has bioswales that capture all stormwater from the property.

Zoning and policy support canencourage land uses that include landscaping with native species, wilding lawns, encouraging urban agriculture for local food production and to connect people to nature, and using neighborhood park and open spaces as part of blight remediation.

Biophilic Design in Public Buildings and Urban Spaces incorporates natural elements like greenery, water, and natural light, enhancing both the physical and mental well-being of the people who occupy these spaces. Sustainable energy features and natural landscaping are especially easy to incorporate into the design of new buildings or major renovations of public buildings or public spaces. In Forest Hills Borough, the Late Bloomers Garden Club and the Forest Hills Garden Club plant and maintain native plantings and pollinator gardens in the Ardmore Boulevard and in Forest Hills Park. Borough plantings include native species and integrated pest management practices to protect pollinators and wildlife.

We are part of the interconnected web of Life. Every opportunity we can take as local leaders to make our communities more resilient, more beautiful with living landscapes more supportive to wildlife, birds and pollinators, the more our communities will support living in harmony with nature. When we preserve the living earth, we preserve and strengthen our own life support system.

(This article will appear in the August issue of “The Municipal Reporter” published by the PA Municipal League.)

Resources and References:

[1] Robert Costanza, Rudolf deGroot, Leon Braat, Ida Kubiszewski, Lorenzo Fioramonti, Paul Sutton, Steve Farber, and Monica Grasso. Twenty Years of Ecosystem Services: How far have we come and how far do we still need to go? Ecosystem Services. Vol. 28(2017) pages 1-16. http://www.robertcostanza.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017_J_Costanza-et-al.-20yrs.-EcoServices.pdf  Accessed July 12, 2026.

[2] Eric Dixon. Repairing the Damage: Cleaning up the air, land, and water damaged by the coal industry before 1977. Ohio River Valley Institute. April 2021. https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/abandoned-mine-lands/  Accessed July 22, 2026.

[3] Kiley Bense. “The Toxic Cocktail brewing in Pennsylvania’s Waterways. Allegheny Front. December 21, 2025. https://www.alleghenyfront.org/pennsylvania-frack-waste-water-radioactivity/ Accessed July 30,2026.

[4]    https://www.lung.org/getmedia/dabac59e-963b-4e9b-bf0f-73615b07bfd8/State-of-the-Air-2024.pdf

[5] Patricia DeMarco. “From Conquerors to Stewards of the Earth.” 04 February, 2022.    https://patriciademarco.com/2022/02/04/transformation-from-conquerors-to-stewards-of-the-earth/

[6] Edward O. Wilson. Biophilia. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, MA. 1984.

[7]  Biophilic Cities- Partner Cities. https://www.biophiliccities.org/partner-cities

[8]  Lazard Life Cycle Cost of Energy- 2026 Report.   https://www.lazard.com/news-announcements/lazard-releases-2026-levelized-cost-of-energyplus-report-pr/   Accessed July 28, 2026.

[9] Environmental and Energy Study Institute. “Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act- A Progress Report.” March 9, 2023.  https://www.eesi.org/irabriefings  Accessed July 22, 2026.

[10] Paul Anastas and John Warner. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice. Oxford University Press. 2000. https://www.acs.org/green-chemistry-sustainability/principles/12-principles-of-green-chemistry.html  Accessed July 29, 2026.

[11] Patricia DeMarco. “The End is the Beginning- The Case for a Circular Materials Management System.” March 7, 2021. https://patriciademarco.com/?s=Circular+Materials+management

[12] Jared Ulmer, Kathleen Wolf, Desiree Backman, Raymond Truthway, Cynthia Blain, Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne, Lawrence Frank. Multiple health benefits f urban tree canopy: The Mounting Evidence for a green prescription. Health and Place. Vol 42. (2016) Pages 54-62. https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/54105.pdf   Accessed July 29, 2026.

[13]Jason Rihn, Nicholas Burnett. Forest Hills Tree Inventory and Management Plan. Bartlett Tree Experts. June. 2026.

[14] Smart Growth America. “Complete Streets Are for Everyone.” 2024. https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/programs-and-coalitions/national-complete-streets-coalition/about/  Accessed July 29,2026.

[15] Heather Sander, Stephen Polasky and Robert Haight. “The value of urban tree cover: A hedonic property price model in Ramsey and Dakota Counties, Minnesota, USA.” Ecological Economics. Vol 69 (2010) Pages 1646-1656.   https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/36073.pdf  Accessed July 29, 2026. 

[16] See the Arbor Foundation site here for tree value tool. https://www.arborday.org/value


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From WWII Victory Gardens to Climate Victory Gardens

We commemorate Memorial Day on the last Monday in May, honoring all of those fallen in wars from the Civil War until now. It is a solemn occasion to mark the service of those who have given their lives in the name of our country. The causes and outcomes have varied over the years, with some more strikingly clear than others. But as a constant lies the dedication and support of the families of soldiers; the solidarity of those who share the experience of combat in arms; and the grief of loved ones for the loss of youth and promise.

The “war of choice” in Iran engaging us now has disrupted commerce and challenged the concept of trust in our leaders to weigh the value of lives carefully.[i] We mere citizens have little influence over the powers that wage wars, but we do experience the personal losses of family and friends; and communities see the impact as resources shift from domestic to military support. As military disruptions affect the international flow of petrochemicals, we see clearly how dependent we have become on this resource in all aspects of our lives. Especially in the food system.

The Straits of Hormuz closing has restricted movement for critical materials disrupting the flow of about 20% of global oil supply.[ii] Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and packaging in the food industry all come from petrochemical industry. So does the fuel that runs the machinery and processing equipment for cultivating and harvesting, and fuel for transporting food from the growing areas to stores and homes. As with many other systems, the use of petrochemicals (oil and natural gas) has been a driver in their growth and development to major international industries.[iii]Now the war in Iran has put a spotlight on what it means to move away from the fossil fuel base for our basic needs for energy, food and transportation. This wartime experience has sharpened the points of need for alternatives based on non-fossil fueled, sustainable systems. It took decades for the industrial revolution to create the conditions of dependence on extractive resources we experience today, but it need not take decades to shift to a more sustainable system. The building blocks are in place already.

The Victory Garden and Domestic food initiatives of the WWII era have many parallels with the sustainable food initiatives of today.[iv] Even though the motivation for the gardens differs somewhat, using local foods, and how we prepare and acquire food for economy, health and public purpose have strong parallels. Rachel Carson compiled recipes for using domestic fishes in all regions of the United States as part of this effort.[v] Efforts to compensate for such things as sugar and butter rationing suggest approaches that can help with healthier eating habits today. Likewise, processes for preserving food for Winter have seen major advances in technology, with dehydration for example.[vi] But the concept of putting food by for year – round use stands as a long tradition to the oldest recorded history of human civilization.

This year, we face food supply constraints not only from war blockades of supply chains but also from the side effects of climate events. In Georgia wildfires have delayed planting times.[vii] In the Midwest, drought lingers, and in the agricultural areas served by the Colorado River, water restrictions loom.[viii] [ix] Conflicting demands between industrial uses and domestic and agricultural needs are growing. The erratic swings in climate conditions makes reliable agricultural production even more of a challenge than it has been traditionally.

Acquiring local foods, preserving seasonal foods and practicing economy and health in what we eat are standards of food culture available to everyone. The women of WWII tended Victory Gardens as part of a war effort, displacing commercial food so production could feed the Armed Forces and Allies. An estimated 8 to 10 billion pounds of food were grown in victory gardens and from other domestic food sources, releasing commercial production for military use.[x]

Modern Home -Grown initiatives look toward reducing the carbon footprint of the food chain by using locally sourced food and using regenerative agriculture practices for healthier eating.[xi] The Rodale Institute has documented that global adoption of regenerative practices across both grasslands and arable acreage could sequester more than 100% of current anthropogenic emissions of CO2 and that stable soil carbon can be built quickly enough to result in a rapid drawdown of atmospheric carbon dioxide.[xii] Restoring fertile ground through regenerative agriculture is an effective tool for capturing carbon dioxide from the air and binding it in soils. That means growing food with natural fertilizers like compost that stores carbon and increases soil fertility. It means having food produced without pesticides and herbicides that can leave residues in food. It means less petrochemicals used for transportation fuel, packaging, and refrigeration. Even displacing a little food purchased can save much in energy use and food waste.

The Climate Victory Garden is a new initiative that contributes to the resilience and sustainability of our food supplies in uncertain times. You can see all the Climate Victory Gardens and register yours here https://greenamerica.org/climate-victory-gardens

You can also support your community farmers by buying fresh produce at local Farmers Markets or participating in Community Supported Agriculture in your area. Summertime is planting time. Harvesting foods as they are ready and appreciating seasonal fruits and vegetables fresh from local gardens and farms is a pleasure forgotten in the inundation of year-round hybrid strawberries, raspberries and apples. Gone are the regional specialties anticipated for a year and enjoyed as a rare delight- like fresh-picked peaches in August. Discover the joy of growing some of your own food and herbs. Share the experience with your children. Live closer to the force of Nature that supports our life on Earth.

Kitchen herb pots- P.DeMarco Spring 2026.

References and Citations:

[i]  Anton Troianovski. “Trump wants to call the shots but in Iran he keeps hitting his limits.” New York Times. June 8, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/us/politics/trump-iran-war-middle-east.html  Accessed June 9, 2026. 

[ii] Samantha Gross and Ryan Beane. “From chokepoint to crisis: The Strait of Hormuz and global oil markets.” Brookings Institute. June 8, 2026.  https://www.brookings.edu/articles/from-chokepoint-to-crisis-the-strait-of-hormuz-and-global-oil-markets/   Accessed June 9, 2026.

[iii]  American Fuel and Petrochemical Manfacturers. “From Farm to table: The Role of Petrochemicals in Agriculture.” March 15, 2016.  https://www.afpm.org/newsroom/blog/farm-table-role-petrochemicals-agriculture  Accessed June 10, 2026.

[iv] Megan Springate. Victory Gardens on the World War II Home Front. National Park Service.   https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/victory-gardens-on-the-world-war-ii-home-front.htm  Accessed June 9, 2026.

[v] Rachel Carson. Food From the Sea: Fish and Shellfish of New England. Conservation Bulletin 33. United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington DC. 1943. National Archive accessed in person May 12, 2025.

[vi]  USDA. Complete Guide to Home Canning, 2015 Revision. National Agricultural Library Digital Exhibit.  https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/ipd/canning/items/show/101   Accessed June 9, 2026.

[vii]  Southern Georgia Wildfires. Satellite Imagery. Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere. NOAA. April 18, 2026 https://satlib.cira.colostate.edu/event/southern-georgia-wildfires/  Accessed June 9, 2026.

[viii] Natalina Sents Bausch. Five Corn States Enter 2026 with Extreme or Exceptional Drought. Successful Farming. January 9, 2026. https://www.agriculture.com/5-corn-states-enter-2026-with-extreme-or-exceptional-drought-11882929  Accessed June 9, 2026.

[ix]  John Frank. Colorado River ranked as “most endangered” in the nation. Axios News. April 19, 2022. https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/04/19/colorado-river-ranked-most-endangered    Accessed June 9, 2026.

[x] Sundin, Sarah (2022) “Victory Gardens in World War II. Today in World War II History, August 15, 2022. https://www.sarahsundin.com/victory-gardens-in-world-war-ii/    Accessed June 10, 2026.

[xi]  Hilary McClafferty. Benefits of Eating Locally Sourced Foods. American Board of Physician Specialties. https://www.abpsus.org/eating-local-foods/  Accessed June 10, 2026.

[xii]  Jeff Moyer, Andrew Smith, Yichao Rui,and Jennifer Hayden.  Regenerative Agriculture and the Soil Carbon Solution. Rodale Institute. September 2020.   https://rodaleinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Rodale-Soil-Carbon-White-Paper_v11-compressed.pdf


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Mayoral Proclamation for Earth day in Forest Hills Borough 2026

Mayoral Proclamation Commemorating the 56th Earth Day

Whereas April 22 has been designated as the annual celebration of the founding of the environmental movement in 1970 and is now celebrated in the United States and in 141 countries worldwide.

Global warming, global pollution of air, water, and land and global loss of biodiversity from the continued combustion of fossil fuels, the proliferation of plastics, and the advance of environmentally stressful technologies like data centers and fracking are causing disruption of traditionally stable environmental conditions.

Climate warming and pollution cause local increased number and severity of storms with flooding and power outages in both summer and winter, drought conditions, and increases in disease-vectors such as ticks, threatening the well-being and livelihoods of many people.

Pollution, environmental degradation and the climate crisis are generational justice issues that disproportionately affect young individuals and future generations, who will face difficulties accessing clean water and clean air.

The theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet” recognizes the collective ability of individuals, communities, and organizations to drive climate action and environmental protection.

Whereas We recognize that the collective actions of many people contribute significantly to advancing environmental progress through sustained individual actions, civic engagement and grassroots organizing.

The Borough of Forest Hills values the quality of our environment by maintaining our standing as a Tree City since 1974, by participating as a Bird Town, by hosting two active garden clubs- The Forest Hills Garden Club and the Late Bloomers Garden Club.

The Borough of Forest Hills has incorporated environmental values through its Comprehensive Plan, Climate Action Plan and Active Transportation plan, with the participation of hundreds of residents, the Environmental Advisory Council, the Tree and Shrub Committee, and Members of Borough Council.

Forest Hills supports ecosystem restoration and watershed protection in Borough Parks and properties and encourages residents to plant and cultivate native flowers, shrubs and trees to support healthy ecosystems and clean water in our community.

Forest Hills supports the reduction of plastic waste by encouraging all citizens to first Refuse plastic when biodegradable alternatives are available, to Reduce the use of plastic by choosing alternative materials, to Reuse materials that can be adapted to other purposes, and to Recycle as much material as possible.

The Borough of Forest Hills continues its implementation of the Climate Action Goals to reduce dependence on fossil fuel resources by using renewable energy sources in Borough operations and to support citizens in their efforts to use renewable energy and consume energy more efficiently.

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Borough of Forest Hills recognizes the gifts of the living Earth that provide our life support system of renewable energy, fresh water, clean air, fertile ground and the wide array of species that constitute the web of life and shall celebrate Earth Day 2026 throughout the month of April with special events:

on Arbor Day on Friday April 24, 2026 at 10:00 am in Forest Hills Park with students from Trinity School to recognize the value mature tree canopies and native PA shrubs bring to our environment and our quality of life; and

on Saturday April 25, 2026 from 9:00 AM to noon Forest Hills will engage the residents of the community in a day of service to clean up accumulated litter and debris from the Parks and streets of the Borough of Forest Hills.

Adopted this 15th Day of April 2026.

Patricia M. DeMarco

Mayor


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Mayoral Proclamation for Forest Hills Arbor Day 2026

 OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS in 1872, the Nebraska Board of Agriculture established a special day to be set aside for the planting of trees, and

WHEREAS this holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and

WHEREAS Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world, and

WHEREAS trees can be a solution to combating climate change by reducing the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cutting heating and cooling costs, moderating the temperature, cleaning the air, producing life-giving oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife, and

WHEREAS trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products, and

WHEREAS trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community, and

WHEREAS trees — wherever they are planted — are a source of joy and spiritual renewal.

 NOW, THEREFORE, I,Patricia M. DeMarco, Mayor of the Borough of Forest Hills, PA, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2026 as ARBOR DAY in the Borough of Forest Hills, and I urge

all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and

FURTHER, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.

DATED THIS 24th day of , April 2026.

Patricia M. DeMarco

Mayor


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Rebuilding Environmental Protection: Lessons from Rachel Carson

Click to access 3-6-2026-rebuilding-environmental-protection.pdf

In consideration of Women’s History Month, I am reflecting on Rachel Carson and her message of precaution in protecting the living earth.

Rachel Carson’s challenge. Rachel Carson lived and wrote in a time before pollution was regulated at the federal level. Her work at the Bureau of Fisheries and in the Fish and Wildlife service documented the value of preserving natural places, enshrined in the National Wildlife Refuges and in the Endangered Species Act. Rachel Carson advocated for preserving all the parts of natural ecosystems and using the tools of natural systems for pest control and resource management. She wrote often of the need to take precaution in the broadscale dispersion of man-made chemicals. She wrote, in the formal language of the 1950s, of the trend of our society towards destruction:

Mankind has gone very far into an artificial world of his own creation. He has sought to insulate himself, in his cities of steel and concrete, from the realities of earth and water and the growing seed. Intoxicated with his own power, he seems to be going farther and farther into more experiments for the destruction of himself and his world.               Rachel Carson. Speech on receiving the John Burrows Medal. April 1952.[i]

This describes the condition we face today. We see all around us the cumulative effects of pollution from burning fossil fuels to plastic waste, and forever chemicals created to control pests or for enhancements like “no-stick” pans. Rachel Carson raised concerns about the chemical stew resulting from the accumulation of materials from multiple sources and through concentration up the food chain. She documented how materials introduced into the environment migrate to unintended locations through the action of wind and water. Silent Springwas all about taking caution.[ii]

But we have not taken caution. We have conducted a massive experiment upon ourselves and our children with no controls, and no anticipation of how to redress the harm. Rachel Carson perceived this potential for harm long before the voluminous scientific documentation of health harms of pollution mounted in evidence.[iii] She wrote from a deep knowledge of the delicate intricacies of the interconnected web of life. She knew in her bones of the absolute dependence of humankind upon the smooth functioning of the ecosystems that provide fresh water, oxygen-rich air and fertile ground. Our life support system depends on these natural systems, evolved over millennia, and stable for thousands of years. But that stability also depends on respecting the laws of nature and preserving the living systems that sustain us.[iv]

The regulatory approach to controlling pollution has rested on the concept of mitigating risk to
the public and protecting the quality of air water and land from contamination. The level of total
risk is defined as the combination of inherent hazard, or how toxic a substance is to living plants,
animals and humans, and the amount of exposure.

RISK = {HAZARD X EXPOSURE}

Consequences: total toxic emissions and health harms. In spite of the voluminous regulations, pollution is increasing not only in the US but globally. Because dispersion by wind and water makes it impossible to isolate contaminants to a specific location, contamination crosses all political boundaries. Even as Rachel Carson pointed out so many years ago, we now see contamination worldwide. The public health implications of this proliferation of toxic contaminants are impossible to escape. (See full article for details.)

Although environmental regulation has improved the quality of air and water overall since before enacting the regulations under the EPA, the results have not kept up with the challenges of modern industrial chemical contamination, nor have they prevented the effects of accumulation of man-made chemicals in the environment. The expectation and complaints from industry that environmental regulation hurts the economy has not been documented. In fact, economic growth has continued even as environmental controls have been enacted and enforced.

De-construction of environmental protections. Today we see the unravelling of the complex tapestry of regulatory controls on pollution, from Executive Orders granting absolution to 41 industries from emission constraints to laws rescinding critical portions of the Clean Air Act.[ii] The EPA under the Trump Administration has rescinded 31 regulations that protect water, air and land from industrial pollution and chemical contamination, challenging Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Act requirements, and curtailing enforcement actions. Rulemaking to control forever chemicals (PFAS) has been delayed or abandoned. The Supreme Court has removed the science-based expert authority of regulatory agencies requiring a strict and narrow interpretation of authorizations stated in the enabling legislation. The EPA revoked the Endangerment Finding of 2009 which put greenhouse gas emissions control under the Clean Air Act, effectively eliminating climate action controls. The EPA has also declared that costs of health harms and deaths from pollution will no longer be calculated in the analysis of regulatory action on air emissions. Challenges to these actions have had some success in federal courts, including the declaration that rescinding congressionally approved grants for renewable energy are illegal.

Rebuild Environmental Protection with Regenerative Thinking. The long-term implications of these policy changes alarm environmental organizations and people concerned with the health of communities who are looking toward a change of administration to correct the harms. But, at this point, simply reversing the actions taken so far will not address the underlying issues. Of all the environmental regulations adopted to date, only the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 addresses the concept of designing to prevent pollution and encouraging recycling. We can take lessons from the regulatory approach of the last 56 years and improve the outcome going forward. This is the opportunity to move our system of laws and regulations through a transformation from an extractive fossil-based economy to a regenerative renewable resourced economy. There are at least five elements to this process.

1. REACH: The first lesson would be to adopt the precautionary principle as the basis for evaluating the introduction of new man-made materials into large scale production.

2. Green Chemistry: Second, adopt a regulatory framework that emphasizes reduction or elimination of the inherent hazard, rather than computing the “safe” amount of toxicity for individual contaminants. 

3. Empower Renewable Resources. Third, adopt the regulatory infrastructure to empower distributed renewable energy systems.

4. Heal damaged lands. Beyond preventing future pollution and damage, lies the responsibility to repair the scars and harms of legacy industries. 

5. Remove fossil industry subsidies. The federal subsidies currently lavished on the fossil extractive industries can be shifted directly to fund the sustainable energy system.

A shared prosperity. It is time for bold action. It is time to recognize that the laws of nature are not negotiable, nor can they be rescinded by executive order or wishful thinking. The condition of our life support system requires both reduction in the levels and types of pollution as well as strong support for the known and available technical solutions. Burning fossil resources as the base for the economy drives the global warming that will make the planet uninhabitable to life as we know it.[i] By creating a new regulatory framework based on regenerative thinking and protection for our life support system, we can establish the conditions for a shared prosperity and sustainable growth within the constraints of our living earth.Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth shall find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. Rachel Carson.

See the full analysis, with citations, of our way forward here: Rebuilding Environmental Protection PDF

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Interview with Logan Crawford- on my book “In the Footsteps of Rachel Carson”

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Patricia M. DeMarco, Ph.D, author of “In the Footsteps of Rachel Carson: Harnessing Earth’s Healing Power”. Discover how you can break free from old patterns, overcome trauma, and reclaim your life through authenticity, healing, and a deep connection to nature. This powerful interview explores the blueprint to becoming your true self — the author of your own story. Don’t miss this transformative dialogue on personal empowerment and ecological wisdom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfxRwsrpyGw

#globalbooknetwork#gbn#authors#books#PatriciaMDeMarco#InTheFootstepsOfRachelCarson#HealingJourney#TraumaRecovery#AuthenticSelf#NatureHealing#RachelCarsonLegacy#PersonalGrowth#MentalHealth#Empowerment#AuthorInterview#BookTalk#SpiritualAwakening#RewriteYourStory#beyourselfgamer Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Footsteps-Rach…

About Logan Crawford: Emmy-winning broadcaster and actor who brings authors and storytellers to the spotlight on the Global Book Network.


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55th Celebration of Earth Day

My Dear Colleagues and Friends.
The passion for preserving our life support system – the living earth – runs as an elixir of inspiration through our work as teachers, guides and models of living in harmony with Nature. Regardless of any pronouncements or Executive Orders, the laws of Nature are not negotiable.

Earth Day has marked annual community clean-up days, opening farmer’s markets, flower displays and recycling events. But really in this year where the EPA Administrator gleefully proposed rolling back 31 environmental protection regulations that were intended to curtail toxic air emissions like mercury and proliferation of forever chemical materials like PFOS, we need more than one-time reminders and displays. We need to take the issue of actively protecting our life support system seriously. That means addressing climate change with leadership and courage. That means curtailing pollution from man-made materials, especially plastics. And that means looking at our own lifestyle for ways to live with less burden on the earth.

On this Earth Day I share with you Rachel Carson’s words:
“…man, far from being the overlord of all creation, is himself part of nature, subject to the same cosmic forces that control all other life. Man’s future welfare and probably even his survival depend upon his learning to live in harmony, rather than in combat, with these forces.” {From Rachel Carson’s essay on Biological Sciences for the National Council of Teachers. In Lost Woods- the Discovered Writing of Rachel Carson. Linda J. Lear (Ed.)Beacon Press. Boston. 1998.Page 165.}


As we celebrate this 55th Earth Day, may we remember that the greatness of a nation is not determined by the number and fame of its billionaires but by the well-being and shared prosperity of its children, the elderly, the infirm and the poorest among us. We cannot have healthy people in a polluted environment. We must offer leadership and give voice to the 73% of Americans, of both parties, who want more direct action on climate change. We who know cannot remain silent in defense of the Living Earth that provides fresh water, oxygen-rich air, fertile ground and the millions of species that constitute the great web of life, of which we humans are but one part.

On this Earth Day re-dedicate yourself to stand as a strong advocate for preserving our living earth…every day! Call you Senators and Congressional Representative today and remind them that our quality of life, indeed our survival, depend on preserving and restoring a healthy environment.

One tulip spared by the rabbits and deer!

Here is the link to my presentation for Earth Day at the Duquesne University Law School

4-22-2025Duquesne_Law-Earth_DayDownload

and my interview with Dr. Dana Noescue.
4-22-2025Duquesne_Law-Earth_Day.pptx (11054 kB)
Healing the Land and Empowering the People: A Message for Earth Day

DKLL LEGAL TALK SERIES Patricia Demarco-Event.pdf  (255 kB)
Event Sponsored by DKLL and the 2025 Students of Climate Change Law, Research, and Writing

The interview with Dr. Dana Neascu can be found here.

https://dsc.duq.edu/law-dcli-speakers/10/


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For 2025 A Call for Solidarity and Organizing in the Face of Tyranny

In this essay, I reflect on the 2024 election results, give some analysis of the situation we face, and some actions forward to create a better outcome. We need a better narrative of how we see the future as a nation of shared prosperity in a healthy, peaceful world. And we need to use the tools of the 21st century to communicate ideas and programs. We need to tell the success stories of taking paths of true and tested policies that support a return to an American Dream that includes everybody, not just the top 10 % of wealthy people.

For me, the solutions are at the community level, because communities- Mayors, Church leaders, civic leaders – we are on the front lines, regardless of what mayhem is cast out from federal policies. Basic institutions have failed everyday people. But tearing down the government does not solve the problems. Returning to the policies of the “Guilded Age” will assure a greater divide in the wealth gap, and leave even more people falling into poverty and despair. We need to build a narrative of inclusion, hope for a better future, and justice for people exploited by this devolution of our society. We must stand together and rethink our way forward from the bottom up. In the United States of America it is not OK for children to go to school hungry, for the maternal and infant mortality rates to fall among the level of underdeveloped countries, for people to work three jobs and still not make ends meet. We need to revive the sense of caring for each other, creating a culture of celebrating the dignity of each person and giving true opportunities for all to thrive together.

Going forward we must hold those in power accountable. If our goal is to build an America where shared prosperity in a healthy world is a reality, not a pipe dream subject to derision and mockery, we must build solidarity. We must re-learn the lessons of the unions that brought safe working conditions and living wages to millions of workers. We need to prepare for meaningful resistance and constructive redirection. We need to study the history of our country and avoid the descent into chaos.

Freedom is not free; democracy comes at the price of citizen responsibility and respect for the rule of law. Freedom without accountability yields chaos. We need to sharpen the tools of resistance to tyranny. We need to sharpen the tools of organizing collective action. Could we mount a general strike or a rolling series of strikes these days? Do consumers have the knowledge and tools to harness boycotts to bring polluters to heel? Do we have a communication system to support organized resistance to discrimination, racism and suppression of rights? We need to step onto our power and build a New American Dream that makes liberty and justice for all a reality.

I wish all of you my readers, colleagues and friends all the Blessings of this Christmas and Holiday Season. May we build a New Year for Peace in the world, with love in our lives, and Joy in our hearts.

Buon Natale!

Patricia DeMarco

23 December 2024

(Download the full essay below.)

Reflections on 2024 A Call For SolidarityDownload


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Empowering the Sustainable Energy System of the 21st Century

It is time for a new National Energy Policy to support a clean, modern energy system. The energy sector is the largest contributor to emissions of greenhouse gases that are causing climate change.[i] Consumers see rising prices for electricity and hear industry complaints about onerous regulations and government curtailment.[ii] Utility companies struggle to address reliability of service requirements and universal service standards even as data centers and AI applications add intense demands for electricity.[iii] Much of the focus on climate action involves shifting to electricity for buildings, transportation and even industry. If the country is to meet climate goals, the shift from burning coal, natural gas and petroleum for power generation must occur much more rapidly.[iv]

Transforming the nation’s energy system to one based on renewable and sustainable resources is a critical element in responding to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Unfortunately, practitioners in the renewable energy systems space currently encounter significant regulatory and institutional barriers to rapid and efficient implementation of new technologies and practices.[v]  National energy policy is needed, including an update to the energy industry’s regulatory framework, to advance the modernization of our country’s electricity delivery system.  

The current regulatory framework is built around centralized energy generation from utility monopolies that deliver electricity to customers residing across a wide geographical territory. Under the National Energy Act of 1992, partial deregulation of the nation’s electricity system took place, leaving a patchwork quilt of conditions in place across the country: 17 states are fully competitive with customer choice for electricity generation and gas supplies; 9 are deregulated for gas suppliers only; and 23 remain fully regulated for electricity and gas.

Data Source: US EPA    https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/understanding-electricity-market-frameworks-policies

Modernizing the nation’s electrical grid system means moving away from this current model of centralized energy generation towards generating energy on site or nearer to the consumer. In this emerging, more distributed energy system, customers may also be generators of the power they consume, they may have on-site storage for all or part of their demand, and buildings can even become virtual power plants by generating excess electricity that can be shared with others in need of that energy. This empirically straightforward approach that is technically feasible, economically beneficial and widely available unfortunately faces enormous difficulties when put into practice.  For example, in a Pittsburgh community three municipal buildings adjacent to each other – the volunteer fire department, public works garage and storage shed and emergency management service – cannot share a common battery storage installation or share the solar photovoltaic electricity generated on three of the four roofs because a “public way” divides the space, and the buildings are wired to three different distribution grids, but not to each other.  The cost to re-wire was more than the cost of installing all of the solar arrays! There is no standard interconnection protocol, and no tariff that fairly allocates costs and benefits. Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings are technically feasible.[i],[ii] We need to clear the regulatory hurdles to expand deployment to make buildings perform as virtual power plants.

Manufacturers and large-scale energy users explore the increasing benefits of co-generation, combined heat and power operations, and on-site storage. New high energy intensity operations like data centers and AI operations could benefit from co-locating efficient power generation on site and piping excess heat to neighboring facilities in need of that heat.[iii] A new regulatory system that accommodates customer generation can accelerate the necessary large- scale advance of renewable energy systems. However, there are few models for regulatory interface among producers and users of steam plus electricity, or waste heat and power.  Such arrangements usually involve complicated business negotiations and are unique to each project.  If distributed energy systems are to become mainstream and accessible to a multitude of energy system configurations, a regulatory system that defines the relationships and possibly new utility services and functions can expedite and streamline such transactions.

Major existing regulatory and institutional barriers

The regulatory system has accumulated policies and practices over decades, proving resistant to change even as technology advances have accelerated.[iv] The most significant regulatory and institutional barriers to modernization include:

  • Policy fragmentation across jurisdictions. Federal, state, and local jurisdictions have differing and sometimes conflicting requirements making national markets difficult to pursue. To correct policy fragmentation, we need more standardization of methods and processes in a systems-oriented approach to regulatory infrastructure modernization.
  • Permitting complexity. Multiple agencies require differing and overlapping permit requirements, poorly sequenced with no clear path among multiple authorities. Grid integration challenges face transmission and distribution capacity constraints, as well as interconnection and Regional Transmission Organization  [AW1] market rules, that pose barriers to renewable energy implementation, in modern utility operations, and impede net-zero greenhouse gas emissions outcomes.
  • Grid integration challenges. Utility systems have capacity constraints as well as a lack of interconnection infrastructure to support “two-way traffic” among customer/generators with or without on-site storage.
  • Lack of uniformly recognized guidelines for RECs. There is no standard framework for defining Renewable Energy Certification (REC) credits that track and verify demand reduction or customer renewable energy generation across jurisdictions. Different states, and sometimes different utilities within states, have differing definitions, pricing and verification methods applied to RECs.
  • Erratic and unstable incentives. Production tax credits, investment tax credits, subsidies, land use allocations for federal land are subject to change with budget cycles unless established in law. The unstable incentives send the wrong pricing signals to the economy and foster inefficient choices for decades, impeding the progress to market transformation and decarbonization.

The current electricity system was designed for one-way flow of electricity from central power generation stations to distant residential, commercial and industrial customers.  Now, several categories of customers also have the opportunity to generate electricity, and send it back into the electric grid.  The electricity system, and the rules that govern it , are not designed for this two-way travel of electrons. In addition, standard interconnection procedures are needed for 1) virtual community power plants with or without storage; 2) standards regarding energy storage, steam/heat distribution or sale from combined heat and power operations, whether by a utility or a non-regulated entity; and 3) demand side management tied to time of use cost savings.[v] The integration of such services into the electric grid would benefit from innovations in communication technology and AI for real-time synchronization of both supply and demand side resources over daily and seasonal cycles.[vi] Many states have explored various approaches to regulatory incentives for renewable energy which provides a good place to begin to assemble the best practices across the country.[vii]

Opportunity for legislative action on national energy policy:

Three federal legislative initiatives will be pending over the next two years and could be legislative vehicles for the adoption of a national energy policy: 

  • Reauthorization of Tax Reform Act of 2017
  • Regulatory Modernization and Permitting (especially shortening timelines)
  • Funding decarbonization and electrification initiatives from the Inflation Reduction Act
  • Budget authorization for programs under the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Updating a National Energy Policy to address the urgency of climate action as well as the complexity imposed by the accumulated regulatory fabric of past decades offers a unique opportunity to a new Administration.  It is important for the next President to address a forward-looking energy policy that empowers and accelerates the critically necessary modernization of the energy system.  Every citizen is affected every day by how cost-efficient, safe and reliable the energy system serves daily needs. Resolving the regulatory quagmire will pave the way for a clean and sustainable energy future.

[i] National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners and National Association of State Energy Officials https://www.naseo.org/issues/buildings/naseo-naruc-geb-working-group

[ii] National GEB Roadmap: U.S. DOE, A National Roadmap for Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (May 2021)

[iii] U.S. DOE. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  Connected Communities presentation December 2, 2021.https://www.naseo.org/data/sites/1/documents/tk-news/connected-communities-for-geb-working-group.pdf    

[iv] Seetharaman, Krishna Moorthy, Nitin Patwa, Saravanan, and  Yash Gupta. Breaking barriers in deployment of renewable energy. Heliyon 5 (2019) e01166. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019. e01166 

[v] G. Olabi, Khaled Alsaid, Khaled Obaideen, Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, Hegazy Rezek, Tabbi Wilberforce, Hussein M. Maghrabi, Enas Taha Sayed. Renewable Energy Systems: Comparisons, challenges and barriers, sustainability indicators, and the contribution to UN sustainable development goals. International Journal of Thermofluids. 20(2023) 100498.  www.sciencedirect.com/journal/international-journal-of-thermofluids

[vi] NASEO, “Demand Flexibility and Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings 101” (September 2022) and “Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings: State Briefing Paper” (October 2019)

[vii] Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. https://www.dsireusa.org

 [AW1]Spell out acronyms

[i] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Total U. S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector in 2022. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions%20Accessed%20September%2022    Accessed September 21,2024.

[ii] Robert Walton. “State Officials Blame Federal Regulators for Higher Energy Prices: ‘Consumers are getting hurt!’” Utility Dive. February 15, 2024. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/state-officials-blame-federal-policy-higher-energy-prices-EPA/707608/   Accessed September 20, 2024.

[iii] North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Electricity Supply and Demand Data, 2023; Energy Information Administration (EIA) Monthly Energy Review; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Pathways to 100% Clean Electricity, 2022. Note that electricity demand includes transmission losses and direct use.  https://www.energy.gov/policy/articles/clean-energy-resources-meet-data-center-electricity-demand   Accessed September 20, 2024.

[iv] Simon Black, Ian Perry, Nate Vernon-Lin. Fossil Fuel Subsidies Surged to $7 Trillion. International Monetary Fund Blog. August 24, 2023. https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2023/08/24/fossil-fuel-subsidies-surged-to-record-7-trillion

[v] Enerdatics. Addressing Policy and Regulatory Challenges in Renewable Energy Projects. July 6, 2023. https://enerdatics.com/blog/addressing-policy-and-regulatory-challenges-in-renewable-energy-projects/   Accessed September 20, 2024.


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Community Benefit ReImagined and Refined

Reposted from ReImagine Appalachia is this article written with Amanda Woodrum

Community Benefits Reimagined and Refined

See the full article here:
https://reimagineappalachia.org/community-benefits-reimagined-and-refined/