May 2011
Environmental Science Ch # 19
Environmental Policy and Decision Making
Challenges for the New Century
Impact
Market Based Economy
Link between Economy, Environment and Social Goals
Governance and Government
Learning from the Past
Reaction Mode
Thinking about the Future
Past activities/Consequences
Advance analysis
Present problems - Global
Defining the Future
Progress
Assessment
Anticipation
Prevention
Development of Environmental Policy in the US
Government branches
Historical
Environmental Backlash – Wise Use Movement
The Changing Nature of Environmental Policy - Organizations
Environmental Policy and Regulations
1300s
Industrialization
Regulations
The Greening of Geopolitics
Polish revolution
Norway
G7
Long term/Near term Economic growth.
Present Understanding
Averting future problems
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Terrorism and the Environment
Use of Force against the Environment
Gulf of Hormuz/Northern France/Viet Nam/Biological
weapons/Japan.
International Environmental Policy
Earth Summit on Environment and Development
WTO Trade – not Environment,
Antarctica
Sweden 1972
Trans-Boundary Air Pollution
UN Law of the Sea
Montreal 1987
Int’l Court of Law.
Environmental Policy in the EU
Protection – Rational use
1992 Maastricht Treaty
1997 Amsterdam Treaty
New International Instruments
Treaties – starting points
All comes back to You.
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19.1 New Challenges for a New. Century.
(a) What would be the major environmental impact caused by developing countries
as they evolve economically?
(b) Presently – As democracy develops , requires Market Based Economy
*Power is shifting from Central to Local and Private Institutions and Corporations
*International trade makes borders porous
*Communications Technology allows everyone to have a voice
*Technology has changed the way we eat, work and produce.
*Constant $ production requires less energy today
*Knowledge most important dynamic resource, because it drives the Economy.
(c) There is a need to recognize the links between Economy, Environment and Social
Goals
Growing populations demand more food, space, and goods and more Jobs. This has lead
to over fishing, over grazing and over harvesting.
Since WW 2, Economic output has increased but a gap between rich and poor has been
created.
Efficiency = Profit = Pollution prevention
Trend is not destiny
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Learning from the Past
Presently, We are in a reaction mode, because we focus on past and present problems.
We react by passing laws and establishing institution.
Failure to address the future can lead to huge economic and environmental costs.
The rate of change is so fast that distance is shrinking.
To achieve a Globally sustainable Economy, one has to consider Population Growth and
unequal wealth distribution, Resource Use and Employment growth.
Resource Use Regulations?
Thinking about the Future.
Global consequences due to past activities include:
The collapse of the Cod fishing industry – Canada.
The threatened Salmon fishing in NW United States.
Air pollution – Mexico City
Water pollution in Russia.
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If problems such as those above were analyzed (in the process of, advanced analysis), the
results should have helped :
To shorten response time
Avoiding problems (costs less than solving them).
Lessening the number of waste disposal sites.
Preservation for future generations.
Minimize the environmental and financial debts, which will be incurred from air
pollution.
Some problems are global (ozone depletion, climate change, loss of biodiversity).
Solving one will not achieve the goal because of the interrelationships between
population size and resource use.
Defining the Future
Progress from reaction to assessment, anticipation and prevention.
An example of the Assessment mode : Presently agricultural practices, and
manufacturing efficiency have lead to less wasteful and more sustainable development.
Actions are paying off. For example: restoring the severely damaged ecosystem, such as
the Everglades.
Success will depend on an educated public.
19.2 Development of Environmental Policy in the US
Legislative Action -1. Government branches manage public affairs
Legislature – Congress passes laws
Executive – enforces the laws
Judicial – interprets the laws
Role of Executive Branch
2. The environment was introduced to government 80+ years ago by T Roosevelt,
who suggested that we should leave the earth a better place than how we found it.
Rachael Carson wrote “Silent Spring” 1968
1st. Earth day celebration in 1970
Federal Parklands increased 12X in the US by President Regan
Exxon/Valdez spill was a wake up call.
Role of non-Governmental Organizations
3. Wise Use Movement is an example of Environmental Backlash. Their agenda
includes:
Privatize National Parks
Private Property rights come first.
Lift restrictions on wetlands development
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Role of Lobbying in the Development of Environmental Policy
Open Government lands to exploration. Replace old forests with
Plantation forests.
(The issues are simplified)
The Changing Nature of Environmental Policy
The National Wildlife Assoc. is now a large bureaucracy with a budget of$100 M. Small
organizations are on the rise again.
19. 3. Environmental Policy and Regulations.
Environmental Laws were passed as early as 1300, became common when
industrialization started. In the US, they fall under Administrative Law, which applies to
government agencies and those affected by the actions of the agencies. Enforced by EPA.
Many of the problems are perceived to be local and the regulations are typically
Command and control. If properly implemented, they can be very effective.
In the US, Environmental Laws are handled by the Administrative Courts. The Federal
Government is both a major cause of environmental degradation and regulatory activities
(under NEPA)
19. 4. The Greening of Geopolitics.
In many countries there is a political party, whose platform is based on the environment.
A growing number of people are interested in the environment as a result of acid rain,
water supply, changing climate..
*Concern about the environment help spark the Polish revolution.
*Norway has offered 1% of its GNP to an international climate fund.
*1989 Paris Conference – 7 industrial nations have appealed for decisive action to
understand and protect the ecological balance of the earth.
*Other countries call for balancing long-term environmental costs and benefits against
near term economic growth.
*Undeveloped countries signed a treaty limiting “Toxic Terrorism”. The use of their
lands by richer countries as dumping grounds for industrial wastes.
It is now understood that ecological degradation in any country inevitably
impinges on the quality of life in others. Example: Drought in Haiti results in more
refugees.
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Water rights in the Mid-East.
CO2 production in industrialized countries can lead to Global warming and inundation of
the Maldives.
Population growth in undeveloped nations can lead to civil unrest, due to lack of social
services and natural resources.
What is wrong with Venezuela selling oil at a lower cost to Cuba?
Economic growth in undeveloped nations can cause environmental peril and international
tensions. Example: China’s use of coal, and it also uses 16.8% of the world’s energy.
National Security Issues
National Security relates increasingly to the environment. Watersheds/Forests/ crop
lands.
To avert future problems, attention must be paid to the environment.
Obstacles are due to the entrenched economic and political interests. Presently, many (>1
B) are too poor and are forced to deplete the environment without regard for the future.
Politics and the Environment are inseparable. In the last 30 years, many environmental
laws were passed and there is great concern in some sectors.
In the US, if the population was to double by 2050, the infrastructure will need to be
doubled.
The entire world is concerned about the environment. There is now cooperation where
tension existed. There is no world body with power to enforce any regulations. Several
Int’l conferences and treaties have been successful but in the final analysis, it depends on
us as individuals.
As the cold war winds down, eco-conflicts between the North and South are expected.
Terrorism and the Environment
Unlawful use of force against environmental resources, so as to deprive their benefits.
Acts of war; acts by individuals or small groups.
Ecoterrorism is applied to Hussein’s use of oil as a weapon. Iraq dumped 6 MMBO in the
Gulf of Hormuz. Environmental recovery has been rapid, but long term effects are
unknown. Burnt oil caused air pollution over Iraq.
Northern France – Sulfuric acid dumped
Viet Nam – Agent orange used
Toxic, Biological and Chemical weapons have been used in all past wars.
The Biological weapons Convention prohibits the development and use of such weapons,
but there are suspicions of some breaking the treaty.
US announced 2001 that it started Defensive Research on Anthrax
Japan – Sarin released in a Tokyo subway.
19. 5. Int’l Environmental Policy
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21 separate institutions addressed Global environmental issues. Not much success.
WTO talks trade but not Sustainable Economic growth nor the Environment.
Success and Failures:
1961. Antarctica Treaty reserves the continent for peaceful scientific research and bans
all military activity.
1972. UN Environmental program initiated in Sweden.
1979. Trans-boundary Air Pollution Treaty.
1982. UN Conference on the Law of the Sea. Addresses the Jurisdiction over Ocean
waters and use of the natural resources. Included are Agreements on Pollution control;
Marine Mammal Protection; Navigation Safety and Deep Ocean Mining (not ratified).
1987. Montreal Protocol addressed Ozone Depletion. Accord on CFC emissions.
The Int’l Court of Law (Hague) has no enforcement powers.
Environmental Policy and the EU
EU Policy – Protection of the environment, Human health and Prudent and rational use of
natural resources.
1992 – Maastricht Treaty established the concept of Sustainable Development
1997 Amsterdam Treaty made sustainable development an overriding objective of the
EU.
New International Instruments
International Agreements; Learning from the Past; Treaties are starting points.
Confirming the links between human activities and global environmental problems
Showing what can happen to human health and the global environment if nothing is done.
19. 6. Comes Back To You.
One must decide that choices should be made on the basis of broader, longer view of self
interest and be accountable for one’s actions. Individual responsibilies.
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