SALISBURY — On Tuesday, March 28, Salisbury Forum presented an interview with Carol Browner, the nation’s first climate czar, to discuss a lifetime of public service dedicated to conservation and environmental protection through government regulation.
Vivian Garfein, member of the Salisbury Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission and former Central Director of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, conducted the interview and recounted Browner’s long legacy of environmental protection.
Browner’s career in public service has spanned four decades. She served as chief legislative assistant under U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles (D-FL) from 1986-1988, legislative director for U.S. Senator Al Gore (D-TN) from 1988-1991 and became Florida’s secretary of environmental regulation from 1991-1993.
Browner became the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Clinton and held the position from 1993-2001. She later served as Director of President Obama’s White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy from 2008-2010.
During her time as secretary of environmental regulation in Florida, Browner undertook to protect the Everglades. Browner indicated that her approach was centered on the belief that economic development and environmental protection could exist harmoniously.
She illustrated this point with an example of a deal she brokered with Walt Disney World. Disney, seeking to build their Animal Kingdom theme park in the early 1990s, was planning to destroy about 400 acres of wetlands for the project.
“We took a look at it and said that’s not going to happen,” said Browner.
The compromise allowed Disney to alter about 100 acres of wetlands and in return they agreed to a restoration project. Browner identified a large farm that was purchased by Disney and restored to its previous wetland status.
It was around this time that she first met Bill Clinton while they were both responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Later that year she traveled to Little Rock to interview for the role of EPA administrator.
After being confirmed by the senate 98-0, Browner was sworn into the position in 1993. Her legislative accomplishments in the Clinton administration secured clean air and safe drinking water protections. She explained how the regulatory power of the EPA was used to lift the standards of corporations and curtail environmental pollution.
“We really figured out how to make the agency start working for the American people,” said Browner.
After eight years in the Clinton White House, Browner joined the Albright Group. She said her time here was spent helping members of the private sector navigate government regulation and policy making around the world.
When President Obama was elected in 2008, he reached out to Browner and asked her to become his climate czar.
“I’ll do it for a year,” said Browner. “I ended up staying for two,” she added.
Browner’s focus at this time was the push for clean energy. She recalled that the efforts of the Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy in the early Obama White House “gave birth to the huge investments in electric vehicles.” At the time, their policies represented the largest investment ever in clean energy.
“What Biden just did has way surpassed it,” said Browner.
While talking about the recent Inflation Reduction Act that has allocated hundreds of billions of dollars to invest in clean energy, Browner noted the difference in approach compared to her efforts in the past. Browner’s approach was largely based around the use of regulatory power, or “sticks,” as she referred to it, to enact change. Under Biden’s plan, she said the driving force for change is money and tax credits, or “carrots.”
“Will you get further with carrots than you got with sticks? We made a lot of progress with sticks,” said Browner.
Browner recognized that the state of the climate and policy making is different today than when she served.
“The reality is we are already starting to live with the consequences of climate change and we are going to have to adapt,” said Browner.
Browner indicated her focus today is on building resiliency within the environment and embracing modern solutions for the changing climate. Browner said she finds hope in the next generation and technological advances.
Today Browner operates as senior counsel at Covington and Burlington LLP and assists clients as they navigate climate change policy. She said she meets with two or three young companies and leaders each week to discuss climate solutions with an emphasis on new technologies.
“Times have changed. What worked 20 years ago is very different than what works today,” said Browner. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment. Put it all on the table.”
Despite a lifetime of conservation efforts and environmental protection, Browner said, “we’re way behind. We run the risk as a generation of leaving to our children a planet that is permanently altered.”
When asked what action a private citizen can take to combat climate change, Browner stated, “there’s one answer: vote. Take the time to become an informed citizen and participate in our democratic process.”
Classic styles, bold colors, and creative concerts make up the “Imaginary Concerts” line at Peggy Mercury.Provided
Shirts from Peggy Mercury’s first fashion line, “Imaginary Concerts,” hang on display.Provided
