Although the issue garnered little pre-election media attention, environmental groups are questioning the evolution of environmental plans now that a president has been selected to sit in the White House for the next four years.

An issue experts expect to be subject to heavy debate in the future is energy development. The question of whether Bush will open up places such as the Alaska refuge or areas in the West Coast of America is also expected to attract attention, as is the fate of the Clear Skies bill.

Nicole Marklein, chair of the College Republicans, said the Bush administration has made advances during its tenure.

“President Bush was the first president in history to propose caps on mercury emissions, and he has proposed several clean-air initiatives.”

Lisa Evans, a senior council on the Clean Air Task Force, maintains a different view on Bush’s environmental plans.

“I think President Bush will try to push through the legislation that will weaken the Clean Air Act,” she said. “Also, young people should be aware of what President Bush does about mercury emissions … In the last four years Bush has been unwilling to put reasonable standards on Mercury emissions.”

Evans added environmental issues did not play a huge factor in the 2004 election, noting they received little media attention, saying, “The war and the economy overshadowed everything else.”

Marklein holds similar views about how environmental policies played into the 2004 election.

“As far as the last election is concerned, I think environmental policy as a single issue took a backseat to more immediate foreign-policy and economic concerns.”

Travis Bird, student chair of Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, said it is important for the government to take active environmental measures immediately.

“We are getting to the point where the time is now, we cannot use the excuse that we are going downhill and it will get bad in 50 years,” Bird said. “It is going to happen for all intensive purposes in our lifetime. I think the administration has shortened this lifetime.”

Both Evans and Bird feel the best way for young people to help the environment is by joining together and taking action.

“Everyday actions” like recycling and composting can make an impact, Bird said.

“On the more macro level, the fact is the best way to influence environmental policy is through going to government groups,” he added. “If there is a time to really be fighting against environmental destruction, it is now, and I think it’s time people start taking a more urgent look at this.”