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Role of govt in environment
The document discusses the role of governments in environmental protection and policy making. It explains that governments can help protect environmental interests through policies that address market failures, full-cost pricing, and the tragedy of the commons. The policy making process involves legislation, funding, rule-writing, and enforcement that is influenced by political processes. Individuals can also work to influence environmental policies through civic engagement, voting, and activism. Environmental laws and regulations are used to control pollution, set safety standards, and protect species. International cooperation and treaties are needed to address global environmental challenges but have been inadequate due to lack of funding and enforcement.
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Role of govt in environment
- 1. Role of Govt.in environmental protection
- 2. 24-1 The Roleof Government in the Transition to More Sustainable Societies • Concept 24-1 A government can help to protect environmental and public interests and help to encourage more environmentally sustainable economic development through its policies.
- 3. Government Can ServeEnvironmental and Other Public Interests (1) • Balance between government intervention and free enterprise • Is the government the best mechanism to deal with – Full-cost pricing – Market failures – The tragedy of the commons
- 4. Government Can ServeEnvironmental and Other Public Interests (2) • Policies and politics • Environmental policy • Policy life cycle: 4 stages – Recognition – Formulation – Implementation – Control
- 5. Fig. 24-2, p.636 Recognition Identify the problem Nonpoint-source water pollution Indoor air pollution Electronic waste Mining wastes Groundwater contamination Environmentally harmful subsidies Exclusion of environmentally harmful costs from market prices Control Monitor and adjust Outdoor air pollution Sewage treatment problems Drinking water pollution Point-source water pollution Some infectious diseases Municipal solid waste Stepped Art Implementation Implement solutions Acid deposition Ozone depletion Municipal solid waste Endangered species Pest damage Soil erosion Formulation Look for solutions Global warming Urban sprawl Nuclear wastes Biodiversity losses Toxic wastes Aquifer depletion
- 6. Democracy Does NotAlways Allow for Quick Solutions (1) • Democracy • Framework – Constitutional democracy – Three branches of government • Legislative • Executive • Judicial
- 7. Democracy Does NotAlways Allow for Quick Solutions (2) • Special-interest groups pressure the government – Profit-making organizations – Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) • Politicians focus on problems with short-term effects, not long-term
- 8. Certain Principles CanGuide Us in Making Environmental Policy (1) • The humility principle • The reversibility principle • The precautionary principle • The net energy principle • The preventive principle
- 9. Certain Principles CanGuide Us in Making Environmental Policy (2) • The polluter-pays principle • The public access and participation principle • The human rights principle • The environmental justice principle • How will these principles be implemented?
- 10. 24-2 How IsEnvironmental Policy Made? (1) • Concept 24-2A Policy making involves law making, program funding, rule writing, and enforcement of rules by agencies—a complex process that is affected at each stage by political processes.
- 11. 24-2 How IsEnvironmental Policy Made? (2) • Concept 24-2B Individuals can work with each other to become part of political processes that influence how environmental policies are made and whether or not they succeed. (Individuals matter.)
- 12. How Democratic GovernmentWorks: The U.S. Model • Three branches – Legislative branch – Executive branch – Judicial branch • Develop and implement policy – Laws, regulation, and funding – Lobbying
- 13. Fig. 24-3, p.639 Laws Legislative branch Executive branch Courts Lobbyists Lobbyists Regulators Public hearing Civil suits Environmental organizations Corporations and small businesses Membership support Patronize or boycott Individuals Purchase recyclable, recycled, and environmentally safe products Recycle cans, bottles, paper, and plastic Plant a garden Donate clothes and used goods to charities Use water, energy, and other resources efficiently Use mass transit, walk, ride a bike, or carpool
- 14. What Can YouDo? Influencing Environmental Policy
- 15. Environmental Leaders CanMake a Big Difference • Lead by example • Campaign and vote for informed and eco-friendly candidates • Run for local office • Propose and work for better solutions to environmental problems
- 16. 24-3 What Isthe Role of Environmental Law in Dealing with Environmental Problems? • Concept 24-3 Environmental laws and regulations can be used to control pollution, set safety standards, encourage resource conservation, and protect species and ecosystems.
- 17. Fig. 24-9, p.654 TRADE-OFFS Global Efforts to Solve Environmental Problems Good News Bad News Environmental protection agencies in 115 nations Most international environmental treaties lack criteria for evaluating their effectiveness Over 500 international environmental treaties and agreements 1992 Rio Earth Summit led to nonbinding agreements with inadequate funding UN Environment Programme (UNEP) created in 1972 to negotiate and monitor international environmental treaties By 2008 there was little improvement in the major environmental problems discussed at the 1992 Rio summit 1992 Rio Earth Summit adopted key principles for dealing with global environmental problems 2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit failed to deal with global environmental problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and poverty 2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit attempted to implement 1992 Rio summit policies and goals and reduce poverty
- 18. Fig. 24-10, p.655 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 Poorly monitored and enforced Establish procedures for monitoring and enforcement 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
- 19. Corporations Can Playa Key Role in Moving Toward Environmental Sustainability • Eco-efficiency • World Business Council for Sustainable Development
- 20. 24-6 Implementing MoreSustainable and Just Environmental Policies • Concept 24-6 Making the transition to more sustainable societies will require that nations implement green plans and that people and nations cooperate, agree on principles, and make the political commitment to achieve this transition.
- 21. Green Planning CanBe a National Priority • The Netherlands focused on four themes – Implement life-cycle management – Improve energy efficiency – Invent more environmentally sustainable technologies – Public education • Is the plan in the Netherlands working? • EPI rank for the Netherlands is 55/149 countries
- 22. We Can Shiftto More Environmentally Sustainable Societies • Emphasize preventing or minimizing environmental problems • Use market-place solutions • Win-win solutions or trade-offs to environmental problems or injustices • Be honest and objective
Editor's Notes
- #6 Figure 24.2 The policy life cycle, including positions of some major environmental problems within the cycle in most developed countries.
- #14 Figure 24.3 Greatly simplified overview of how individuals, corporations, and environmental organizations interact with each other and with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The bottom of this diagram also shows some ways in which individuals can bring about environmental change through their own lifestyles. (See the website for this book for details on contacting elected representatives.)
- #18 Figure 24.9 Good and bad news about international efforts to deal with global environmental problems. Question: What single piece of good news and what single piece of bad news do you think are the most important?
- #19 Figure 24.10 Global outlook: major problems with global environmental treaties and agreements and solutions to these problems. Question: Which problem and which solution do you think are the most important?