The Big Ideas Project

Repeal the Mining Law of 1872. Require that any public land sold should be sold for fair market value and any money derived from mineral extraction be taxed at a rate commensurate with the damage done to the environment. The taxes should cover the repair and restoration of the land and water. The sale of land should not exclude environmental groups or private citizens who wish to preserve the land for future generations

Submitted by S. fried in Environment Jan. 12, 2015, 5:09 p.m. 1

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#194

1240 votes

Stop "Taxing" solar power setup by individuals and families; allow rights to setup solar power and prevent laws that make it illegal to do so.

Submitted by reidmix in Environment Dec. 10, 2014, 3:11 p.m.

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#211

1162 votes

Redirect fossil-fuel subsidies from energy companies to state and local governments solely for the purpose of financing conservation retrofits and distributed solar energy for "grid-connected" homeowners and small businesses. This would have the effect of expanding small-scale clean renewable-energy production, reducing carbon emissions, saving people money, and creating dynamic local economic sectors.

Submitted by cascadian12 in Environment Dec. 28, 2014, 2:32 p.m. 3

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#217

1129 votes

President Obama has the authority to create National Monuments that will be off limits to big oil, gas and logging interests. Please ask our President to create as many National Monuments as he can over the next 2 years so that OUR PUBLIC LANDS can be kept safe, wild and free for our wildlife and their habitat and that no one person or group can try to take the land for their personal use.

Submitted by makl1 in Environment Jan. 8, 2015, 1:49 p.m.

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#233

1057 votes

Merged Idea

The environment includes our wild animals some of which are being slaughtered daily for contests and derbies. 85 countries have banned trapping so why hasn't the United States banned this cruel and horrendous way to kill animals. There are millions of us who want trapping banned but it seems no one is listening.

Submitted by Sandra Weber in Environment Dec. 9, 2014, 7:32 p.m.

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#238

1000 votes

Plant and maintain fruit and nut trees in public parks, especially in urban areas, and allow harvesting by private citizens to increase local food resilience. Many fruit and nut trees are also beneficial for wildlife and offer the same benefits to air quality, carbon sequestration, urban heat island mitigation, etc. as any other tree. Existing examples include Seattle's Beacon Food Forest and Asheville's Dr. George Washington Carver Edible Park.

Submitted by Kerry in Environment Dec. 31, 2014, 12:43 p.m.

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#242

985 votes

Two things ----- Massive Global Reforestation would help with removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and also help cool the planet. Also, Serious R&D should go into finding a cost effective solution of Desalinating Ocean water in massive quantities. This would solve a lot of problems of water shortages all over the our planet.

Submitted by Jan T. from MD in Environment Nov. 11, 2014, 4:04 p.m.

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#243

979 votes

Converting fully to wind, solar, geothermal, and renewable energy sources immediately, w ith an end to subsidies and other life support systems for the fossil fuel industry that is killing us.

Submitted by Margaret Nagel in Environment Nov. 18, 2014, 1:12 p.m.

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#244

977 votes

Without the earth surviving, there is no reason for the rest of the choices! Get on it! Reduce greenhouse gasses, curtail the use of plastic containers, cut the use of GMO, stop the use of lethal herbicides, pesticides and fungicides, use wind power and solar for energy! It's all doable!

Submitted by cwoodyard in Environment Jan. 4, 2015, 4:08 p.m.

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#257

900 votes

Our country's Wildlife needs protection from the BLM, the Wildlife Service, ranch organizations, the oil & gas lobbies & even some states. Our wildlife: mustangs, wolves, bison, foxes, coyotes etc. are not getting the protection they are entitled to by law. They are being killed right and left to meet the demands of those listed above. Even with the outcry of a huge number of regular citizens, the killing and round ups continue, facilitated by government agencies.

Submitted by CKS in Environment Dec. 17, 2014, 3:16 p.m.

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#264

880 votes

Extra funding for our federal lands-National Parks, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, BLM Parks. No more logging in our national forests.

Submitted by Gerry M. from WA in Environment Nov. 17, 2014, 11:02 a.m.

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#266

871 votes

Amend the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to prohibit the Export-Import Bank from guaranteeing, insuring, extending credit, or participating in the extension of credit in connection with the purchase or sale of any good or service for a high carbon intensity project that: is designed to generate electricity, and if completed would produce at least 500 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by the project.

Submitted by Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2) in Environment Dec. 10, 2014, 2:15 a.m.

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#267

870 votes

Stop giving away access to public lands and resources to corporations at no charge or a pittance. The people, who own public lands, should be justly compensated.

Submitted by Richard Gray in Environment Dec. 10, 2014, 8:22 p.m.

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#271

849 votes

Federal Leadership in Energy Efficient Transportation Act. Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to expand the definition of "energy or water conservation measure" under such Act to include, in the case of a contract in which the USPS is a party: the purchase or lease of greener vehicles; the upgrade of USPS vehicles to increase average fuel economy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions; or the construction of infrastructure to support such vehicles, including charging stations.

Submitted by Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2) in Environment Dec. 10, 2014, 2:12 a.m.

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#284

788 votes

Offer incentives for beekeeping and protecting pollinators such as butterflies and other valuable insects. Ban chemicals that harm these creatures and that might destroy our future food supply.

Submitted by jneel in Environment Jan. 15, 2015, 11:12 a.m.

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#295

772 votes

Merged Idea

Create a national aqueduct system that can prevent flooding in one area and alleviate drought in another.

Submitted by Stuart G. from CA in Environment Nov. 11, 2014, 6:02 p.m.

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#303

751 votes

Require all ships carrying oil or dangerous cargo to have on board sufficient equipment to mitigate a spill in whatever volume of cargo they carry. When - not if - an accident occurs, the time saved in having the safety equipment onsite could save a lot of wildlife and keep the environment from being damaged.

Submitted by Molson in Environment Dec. 9, 2014, 9:38 p.m.

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#311

727 votes

Require all manufacturers selling products in the United States to be responsible for the product once it reaches the end of its life. Instead of throwing the item away, you would give it back to the manufacturer for them to reuse, repurpose or recycle.

Submitted by Jared in Environment Dec. 31, 2014, 11:55 a.m.

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#314

720 votes

In the spirit of FDR, create a 50 state green initiative. State by state find the worst, or one of the worst, environmentally harmful actions currently happening and find a way to transform it into something more helpful for the environment. Or at least invest in 50 states for environmentally conscious programs and build environmentally helpful buildings and infrastructure. It could range from public transportation to farming to anything. This could also be a terrific jobs program.

Submitted by PJM in Environment Jan. 15, 2015, 2:54 a.m.

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#320

713 votes

Tax pesticides for the damage they do. Use the funds to pay for any needed clean up or inspection, also perhaps to support organic foods. Organic foods are only expensive because they're small scale. When prices equalize consumers can choose for health rather than cost, and organic production should increase rapidly. Soon prices will be better than now and the environment will be healing.

Submitted by Tim in Environment Jan. 4, 2015, 1:48 p.m.

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#322

703 votes

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