politics and the environment

1. Politics and the EnvironmentPolitics and the Environment

2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICYENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
 Government must play a role –full-cost pricing,Government must play a role –full-cost pricing,
market failures, tragedy of the commonsmarket failures, tragedy of the commons
 PoliticsPolitics – influencing or controlling the– influencing or controlling the
policies of government – who has power overpolicies of government – who has power over
resourcesresources
 Most politics is localMost politics is local
 DevelopingDeveloping environmental policyenvironmental policy involvesinvolves
identifying a problem and its causes, comingidentifying a problem and its causes, coming
up with a solution, implementing the solutionup with a solution, implementing the solution
and monitoring and adapting the solution asand monitoring and adapting the solution as
neededneeded

3. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICYENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
 Development of policy:Development of policy:

Recognition – identify problemRecognition – identify problem

Policy formulation – identify specific causes ofPolicy formulation – identify specific causes of
problem and develop solution (i.e., passing a law)problem and develop solution (i.e., passing a law)

Implementation – put solution into effectImplementation – put solution into effect

Adjustment – monitor progress and makeAdjustment – monitor progress and make
adaptations as neededadaptations as needed
 Difficult in a democracy – laws, budgets,Difficult in a democracy – laws, budgets,
regulations, elected and appointed officialsregulations, elected and appointed officials
have many pressureshave many pressures
 Politicians focus on short-term not long-termPoliticians focus on short-term not long-term

5. Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Policy
 Policy influenced by special interestPolicy influenced by special interest
groups:groups:

Profit making organizations – businessesProfit making organizations – businesses

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
 Individuals matterIndividuals matter
 Grassroots political action worksGrassroots political action works
 Watch out for “astro-turf” – corporationsWatch out for “astro-turf” – corporations
making it appear as if it’s grassrootsmaking it appear as if it’s grassroots
 Think globally, act locallyThink globally, act locally

6. Principles Can Guide Us in MakingPrinciples Can Guide Us in Making
Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Policy
 The humility principle – how our actionsThe humility principle – how our actions
affect natureaffect nature
 The reversibility principle – avoidThe reversibility principle – avoid
decisions that cannot be reverseddecisions that cannot be reversed
 The net energy principle – avoid low netThe net energy principle – avoid low net
energy yieldsenergy yields
 The precautionary principle – takeThe precautionary principle – take
precautionary measuresprecautionary measures

7. Principles Can Guide Us in MakingPrinciples Can Guide Us in Making
Environmental Policy (cont.)Environmental Policy (cont.)
 The prevention principle – help preventThe prevention principle – help prevent
problems from occurringproblems from occurring
 The polluter-pays principle – taxes, etc.The polluter-pays principle – taxes, etc.
 The environmental justice principle – noThe environmental justice principle – no
people should bear unfair burdenpeople should bear unfair burden

8. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN THEENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN THE
UNITED STATESUNITED STATES
 Formulating, legislating and executingFormulating, legislating and executing
environmental policy in the U.S. is aenvironmental policy in the U.S. is a
complex, difficult, and controversial processcomplex, difficult, and controversial process

Passing lawsPassing laws

Funding for implementing lawFunding for implementing law

Funding for enforcementFunding for enforcement

10. Fig. 25-5, p. 597
White
House
Office
Office of
Management
and Budget
Council on
Environmental
Quality
• Overall policy
• Agency
coordination
• Budget
• Agency coordination
and management
• Environmental policy
• Agency coordination
• Environmental impact statements
Dept of Health
& Human
Services
Environmental
Protection
Agency
Department
of Justice
Department
of the
Interior
Department
of
Agriculture
Department
of Defense
• Health • Air & water pollution
• Noise
• Pesticides
• Solid waste
• Radiation
• Toxic substances
• Environmental
litigation
• Endangered species
• Energy
• Minerals
• National parks
• Public lands
• Fish and wildlife
• Water development
• Soil
conservation
• Forestry
• Civil works
construction
• Dredge & fill permits
• Pollution control from
defense facilities
Nuclear
Regulatory
Commission
Department
of State
Department
of
Commerce
Department
of Labor
Department of
Housing and
Urban
Development
Department of
Transportation
• Licensing and
regulation of
nuclear power
• International
environment
• Oceanic and
atmospheric
monitoring and
research
• Occupational
health
• Housing
• Urban parks
• Urban planning
• Airplane noise
• Mass transit
• Oil pollution
• Roads
Tennessee
Valley
Authority
Department
of Energy
• Energy policy
• Petroleum allocation • Electric power generation
President

11. How a BillHow a Bill
Becomes a LawBecomes a Law
 Individual citizens andIndividual citizens and
lobbyists canlobbyists can
influence how the billinfluence how the bill
is written before it isis written before it is
introduced andintroduced and
through subsequentthrough subsequent
stagesstages
 Once passedOnce passed
regulations must beregulations must be
developed anddeveloped and

13. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND LAWSENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND LAWS
 The body of environmental laws is constantlyThe body of environmental laws is constantly
evolving through legislation and lawsuits. Itevolving through legislation and lawsuits. It
includes:includes:

Statutory laws – passed by legislative bodiesStatutory laws – passed by legislative bodies

Administrative laws – consist of rules andAdministrative laws – consist of rules and
regulations, executive orders and enforcementregulations, executive orders and enforcement
decisionsdecisions

Common law – a body of unwritten rules derivedCommon law – a body of unwritten rules derived
from past legal decisionsfrom past legal decisions
 Environmental lawsuits are expensive andEnvironmental lawsuits are expensive and
difficult to windifficult to win

14. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND LAWSENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND LAWS
 U.S. environmental laws:U.S. environmental laws:

Set pollution standards for pollution levels (CleanSet pollution standards for pollution levels (Clean
Air Act, Clean Water Act)Air Act, Clean Water Act)

Screen for toxic substances (Toxic SubstancesScreen for toxic substances (Toxic Substances
Control Act)Control Act)

Evaluate environmental impacts (NationalEvaluate environmental impacts (National
Environmental Policy Act – NEPA)Environmental Policy Act – NEPA)

Encourage resource conservation (ResourceEncourage resource conservation (Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, National EnergyConservation and Recovery Act, National Energy
Act)Act)

Protect various ecosystems and species fromProtect various ecosystems and species from
harm (Endangered Species Act, Wilderness Act)harm (Endangered Species Act, Wilderness Act)

15. Major Environmental Laws in the U.S.Major Environmental Laws in the U.S.
 Major environmental laws since 1969 –Major environmental laws since 1969 –
amendments, but no major laws since 1970samendments, but no major laws since 1970s

16. Major Types of Environmental LawsMajor Types of Environmental Laws
in the U.S.in the U.S.
 The National Environmental Policy ActThe National Environmental Policy Act
((NEPANEPA) – requires evaluation of) – requires evaluation of
environmental impact of an activity proposedenvironmental impact of an activity proposed
by a federal agency – must takeby a federal agency – must take
consequences into accountconsequences into account

AnAn environmental impact statementenvironmental impact statement ((EISEIS) must) must
be developed for every major federal projectbe developed for every major federal project
likely to have an important effect onlikely to have an important effect on
environmental quality – what’s good and bad andenvironmental quality – what’s good and bad and
why it’s neededwhy it’s needed

17. Case Study: Threats to the U.S.Case Study: Threats to the U.S.
Environmental Legal and RegulatoryEnvironmental Legal and Regulatory
Structure – Environmental BacklashStructure – Environmental Backlash
 Three major groups are strongly opposed toThree major groups are strongly opposed to
many environmental laws, regulations andmany environmental laws, regulations and
proposals:proposals:

Some corporate leaders who see environmentalSome corporate leaders who see environmental
laws as threats to their profits, wealth and powerlaws as threats to their profits, wealth and power

Citizens who see environmental laws as threatsCitizens who see environmental laws as threats
to their private property rights and jobsto their private property rights and jobs

State and local government officials who resentState and local government officials who resent
having to implement federal environmental lawshaving to implement federal environmental laws
with little to no fundingwith little to no funding

18. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPSENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
 Environmental groups monitor environmentalEnvironmental groups monitor environmental
activities, work to pass and strengthenactivities, work to pass and strengthen
environmental laws, and work withenvironmental laws, and work with
corporations to find solutions to environmentalcorporations to find solutions to environmental
problemsproblems

Non-government agenciesNon-government agencies ((NGONGOs) range froms) range from
grassroots groups to global organizationsgrassroots groups to global organizations

Help expose corruption and violation of nationalHelp expose corruption and violation of national
and international agreementsand international agreements

Protest, demonstrate, educate, sue, organize inProtest, demonstrate, educate, sue, organize in
communitiescommunities

19. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPSENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
 Examples:Examples:

The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy

Sierra ClubSierra Club

Audubon SocietyAudubon Society

Natural Resources Defense CouncilNatural Resources Defense Council

GreenpeaceGreenpeace

20. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICYGLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
 Many analysts believe that environmentalMany analysts believe that environmental
security is as important as military andsecurity is as important as military and
economic securityeconomic security

Some developing nations view the concept ofSome developing nations view the concept of
environmental security as an agenda for richenvironmental security as an agenda for rich
countries to continue their control of the world’scountries to continue their control of the world’s
natural resourcesnatural resources
 International environmental organizationsInternational environmental organizations
help develop laws, educate, monitor treaties,help develop laws, educate, monitor treaties,
etc. (ex: U.N., World Bank)etc. (ex: U.N., World Bank)

22. Fig. 25-11, p. 611
Solutions
International Environmental Treaties
Problems Solutions
Take a long time to
develop and are
weakened by
requiring full
consensus
Do not require full
consensus among
regulating parties
Establish procedures
for monitoring and
enforcement
Poorly monitored
and enforced
Lack of funding for
monitoring and
enforcement
Increase funding for
monitoring and
enforcement
Treaties are not
integrated with one
another
Harmonize or
integrate existing
agreements

23. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICYGLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
 Earth summits and internationalEarth summits and international
environmental treaties play important roles inenvironmental treaties play important roles in
dealing with global environmental problems,dealing with global environmental problems,
but most are not effectively monitored orbut most are not effectively monitored or
enforcedenforced
 Making the shift to a more equitable andMaking the shift to a more equitable and
environmentally secure and sustainableenvironmentally secure and sustainable
global society is an economic, political, andglobal society is an economic, political, and
ethical decisionethical decision