Chapter 3: Environmental Policy
Decision Making and
Problem Solving
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Public Policy
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laws, regulations, orders, incentives and
practices intended to advance societal
welfare.
Environmental policy pertains to interactions
between humans and the environment
policy requires input from science, ethics and
economics
Equity and Resource Use
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guidelines for the use of resources will prevent
overuse and degradation
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restriction of use
active management
voluntary efforts are not as effective because of free
riders
external costs are effects that third parties end up
paying for unethical actions of someone
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high costs of health insurance because of constant fraud
Hindering Implementation of
Environmental Policy
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many factors
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considered restrictive
bureaucratic
unresponsive
long-term process so people don't see it develop
news media gives more coverage to short-term
events
politicians react to short-term events as a jumpstart for reelection
U.S. Environmental Policy
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3 branches of government
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legislative
executive
judicial
State and Local
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mirrors the federal system
more dense locations have stronger
environmental laws
Public Land Management
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3 periods
first period: management of public lands
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1780s to 1800
westward expansion of the nation
Second period
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impacts of the first period
problems created by westward expansion
needed to be mitigated
creation of parks, reserves, forest system,
wildlife refuge
soil conservation after the dust bowls of the
1930s
Third period
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Pollution
mid to late 20th century
driven by technology, heavy industry and
intensive resource consumption
Cuyahoga river caught fire
Cleveland Press
Laws Created to Protect the
Environment
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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
President Richard Nixon 1970
Council on Environmental Quality
evaluates environmental impacts before with
new projects such as dams, highways or
building
serves as an incentive to lessen the damage
the project might create
Laws Created
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
President Richard Nixon 1970
conducts and evaluates research
monitors environmental quality
sets and enforces standards
assists states in meeting those standards
educating the public
Key Environmental Protection Laws
1963-1985
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International Environmental Policy
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bilateral and multilateral agreements
customary laws arises from long standing
practices
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customs
conventional law arises from conventions or
treaties
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Kyoto agreement
International Environmental Policy
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The United Nations:
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United Nations Programme
located in Nairobi, Kenya
its mission is sustainability, improving the quality
of life without compromising future generations
extensive research
European Union:
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European Environmental Agency
waste management
noise pollution
water pollution
air pollution
habitat degradation
natural hazards
World Trade Organization
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established
in 1995
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represents multinational corporations
promotes free trade
enforces fairness among nations in trading
practices
can impose fines to those that don't follow
the rules
can aggravate environmental problems
Nongovernmental Organizations
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some focus on conservation objectives without
becoming politically involved
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purchasing land
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Nature Conservancy
some attempt to shape policy directly or indirectly
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education
research
lobbying
protests
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World Wide Fund for Nature, Conservation International,
Greenpeace
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Environmental Policy Process
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Environmental Policy Process
coalitions
more effective raising funds
Lobbying
campaigning contributions
revolving door
gain access to politicians
find one that will agree
media attention
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Science can be "Politicized"
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editor of the U.S. reports of climate change
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oil industry lobbyist
he had no background in science
was asked to edit the report "tone it down"
NASA scientist who was told to back down
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was refrained from speaking out about
greenhouse effect
refused to do so
NASA backed down once media knew about it
Approaches to Environmental Policy
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Command-and-control
subsidies
green taxes
permit trading
market trading
Command-and-Control
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costly and not very efficient
laws, rules and regulations set up by
government
Subsidies
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government giveaway
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cash
public owned resources
encourages investment or activities
Subsidies
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often used in unsustainable projects
Forest Service road building subsidies
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General Mining Law of 1872
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roads must be built and maintained by tax payer money for
companies that cut timber
pollutes the water shed and doesn't pay a dime to clean it up
Coal Subsidies
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more money is invested trying to find a way of polluting less
when using coal, than that granted to less polluting renewable
energy
Green Taxes
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taxes on environmentally harmful activities
and products
has not yet gained wide support
financial incentive to reduce pollution
disadvantage
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costs may be passed to consumers
low-income consumers will be affected the most
Permit Trading
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known as cap-and-trade
a maximum amount of pollutants is
determined by the government
permits are given to several companies
these trade between themselves the amount
of pollution each can create
as long as the total amount doesn't go above
the maximum amount already determined
Problems with Cap-and-Trade
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hot spots of pollution
hoarding of permits by large companies
deters smaller innovative companies from
entering the market
nevertheless it has shown to be working
Kyoto protocol
Market Trading
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incentives to change your way of living:
lower electric bills when using efficient light bulbs
charges according to amount of waste
upgrading appliances
upgrading sewage treatment plant
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