The TPP and the Environment

The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade agreement for economic growth and to sustain political partnerships.  That's all.  It's not an agreement to help the people on the bottom rung of the social ladder, and it sure isn't an agreement to help the environment.  If you're thinking that this is one of those agreements that the smart, responsible, environmentally-friendly Obama champions, you're wrong.  This is an agreement that the politically-savvy, conciliatory, pragmatic Obama is pushing. Since the beginning of the political push to get this agreement through congress, respected environmental advocacy groups have criticized the TPP for falling short on protections for oceans, fish, wildlife, and forests.  In each one of these critical areas, we're taking steps back, undoing years of agreements and rhetoric and work, all in the name of capitalism and politics.

I understand the need for jobs and a good economy, but if, underpinning all of that, we have a fragile environment, frayed ecosystems and water that isn't fit to drink, that economy and those jobs don't mean much.  Environmental justice is about sustaining a way of life, a quality of life for everyone, not just the fortunate ones.

It's not just disappointing that the president of 'hope' and 'change' is willing to compromise on such matters, it's baffling.  Why would a liberal president, 2 years away from the end of his presidency, choose to give on such seemingly important and far-reaching matters?  Other trade agreements, such as NAFTA and the US-Peru Agreement serve as lessons for how NOT to execute a trade agreement if you wish to keep the environment healthy and sustain communities that aren't rich.  The TPP is rife with deregulatory language that will leave the poorest communities vulnerable and potentially exposing more people to waste and exploited natural resources.  This isn't a long-term economic, environmental, or diplomatic gain, but rather a short-term political effort to look bipartisan in anticipation of another election season.


The TPP is another example of our skewed priorities and what us environmental justice junkies are up against.  Sweeping international trade deals that are thrown together with the interests of a few in mind are devastating, but there is hope.  As he wisely noted in his encyclical last week, Pope Francis said "Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start."