Environmental protection

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00148a601· OSTI ID:5642779

Cook, Jr, A A

Over the past two decades, protecting the environment has grown into a major sales-generating, profit-making, job-creating industry, largely unnoticed by the general public. In 1985 expenditures for pollution abatement and control totaled $70 billion. If the industry were a controlled corporation, it would rank near the top of the Fortune 500. In 1985, $8.5 billion in private business capital was invested in environmental protection. These investments resulted in total sales in the USA of $19 billion. They generated business profits of $2.6 billion, and provided jobs for 167,000 persons. Investments in plant and equipment that produce this strongly desired public good are as productive as those that produce the automobiles, television sets, or defense systems, that we are willing to pay for privately or through taxes. Industries in states that are negatively affected by environmental legislation are benefiting substantially from the sales, profits, and jobs created by pollution control and abatement investments. With respect to acid rain, therefore, the industries and regions creating acid rain pollution will in many cases help provide solutions to the problem. Even a small-scale program of acid rain abatement will create 115,000 jobs and generate $1.5 billion in corporate profits. Funds spent on pollution abatement and control programs are not wasted.

• Research Organization: Management Information Services, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5642779
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 20:6; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CONTROL
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
RAIN
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS