Citizen of the World

After Oregon's Gov. Kitzhaber asked for a review of coal transportation http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/04/oregon_gov_john_kitzhaber_call.html he later declared that he was opposing any efforts to expand it.
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/04/oregon_gov_john_kitzhaber_firm.html

© Associated Press 2007.

Gov. Kitzhaber is giving a sense of world citizenry that is rare in today's politics. More so when big corporation have the money and power to lobby any government official. Most times we forget that acting locally means thinking globally, and vise-versa that local action has an impact on global environments. Burning coal in China might not look like is damaging our air, so we think that we can continue breathing fresh and clean air here in the northwest as the atmosphere in China is polluted. But wait! China's atmosphere is our own atmosphere there is only one atmosphere!

Besides the burning what about the transportation. What is the impact on our air, water, and soil? Then is the question about who is going to pay for the damage. The coal industry of course is not, as they have been accustomed to externalize all costs. Same as the oil industry, that recently has opposed any efforts to increase safety regulations after the disastrous accidents where people where killed and huge property damage was done. For a list of topics on oil train link here.

How can be balance the benefits of having these non-renewable energy resources and protecting the environment?

Who owns these natural resources? and who should benefit from their exploitation?