Politics, Environment, & Sustainability

Ch. 24

The Role of Government in the Transition to More Sustainable Societies

Through its policies, a government can help to protect environmental and public interests, and to encourage more environmentally sustainable economic development.

Government Can Serve Environmental and Other Public Interests

Balance between government intervention and free enterpriseNOT EASY!

•Government is the best mechanism to deal with– Full-cost pricing– Market failures– The tragedy of the commons

How Can Government Serve Environment and Other Public Interests?

Environmental policy – laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms conserning environmental issues and sustainability

Policy Life Cycle

4 stages– Recognition– Formulation– Implementation– Control

Recognition Identify the problem

Nonpoint-source water pollutionIndoor 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 pollutionSewage treatment problemsDrinking water pollutionPoint-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

Climate change

Urban sprawl

Nuclear wastes

Biodiversity losses

Toxic wastes

Aquifer depletion

Fig. 24-2, p. 639

Democracy Quick Solutions

Democracy : Government by the people through elected officials & representatives

United States is a constitutional democracy

Special-interest groups pressure the government– Profit-making organizations– Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

Politicians focus on problems with short-term effects, not long-term

Democracy Quick Solutions

7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm

7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm

1. The humility principle: Understanding of how our actions affect nature

7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm

2. The reversibility principle: Try not to make a decision that cannot be reversed

- Hazardous toxic waste- Nuclear waste - Carbon emissions

7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm

3. The net energy principle: Do not encourage use of technologies with low net energy yields

7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm

4. The precautionary principle: Take measure to prevent/reduce harm

7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm

5. The preventive principle: Prevent a problem or prevent making worse

7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm

6. The polluter-pays principle: Regulations & economic tools to ensure that polluters bear the cost of dealing with pollutants/waste (full cost pricing)

7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm

7. The environmental justice principle: Environmental policy so that no group of people bears an unfair share of the burden.

How Is Environmental Policy Made?

Involves enacting laws, funding programs, writing rules, and enforcing those rules with government oversight

Environmental lawBody of laws and treaties that broadly define what is

acceptable environmental behavior

Developing Environmental Policy Is a Controversial Process

• Funding needed

• Regulations and rules needed to implement the law

• Policy: important role of environmental regulatory agencies– Regulated businesses try to have

their members appointed to regulatory agency

How Democratic Government Works: The U.S. Model

Fig. 24-3, p. 642

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

Reuse and recycle various items

Plant an organic garden

Donate clothes and used goods to charities

Use water, energy, and other resources efficiently

Walk, ride a bike, or use a carpool or mass transit

Major Environmental Laws and Amended Versions Enacted in the U.S. Since 1969

NO major new environmental laws have been passed since the 1970s!!!!!

Major Types of Environmental Laws in

USoSet standards for pollution levelsoScreens new substancesoEncourages resource conservationoSets aside or protects certain species, resources, and ecosystemsoRequires evaluation of the environmental impact

Fig. 24-4, p. 643

Environmental Lawsuits Are Difficult to Win

1. Legal standing: has the plaintiff suffered health or financial problems?

2. Very expensive

3. Public interest law firms: usually can’t recover attorney’s fees

4. Have you been harmed and did the company cause the harm?

Environmental Lawsuits Are Difficult to Win

5. Statutes of limitation

6. Appeals: years to settle

7. Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

Major reforms are needed

Science VS Politics

Science1. Any scientific claim must

be based on hard evidence and be subject to peer review

2. Scientists can never establish absolute truth

3. Scientists vigorously debate the validity of scientific research

4. Science advances through open sharing and peer review of research methods, results, and conclusions

Politics1. Politicians are most

concerned with getting reelected

2. Disregard scientific evidence, or pick and choose facts to support a political position

3. Personal attacks versus discussion of facts

4. Spread of disinformation in media/online

Who opposes U.S. environmental laws?

– Some corporate leaders and other powerful people

– Some citizens who see threats to private property rights

– Some state and local officials who don’t like being forced to implement federal laws and regulations

Why the opposition?

- Environmental issues not as easy to see now- Environmentalists as bearers of bad news

What Are the Major Roles of Environmental Groups?

Grassroots groups are growing and combining their efforts with those of large environmental organizations in a global sustainability movement.

Student Pressure on Campuses to Carry Out Environmental Audits

– Gather data on practices that affect the environment

– Propose changes

Science Focus: Greening American Campuses

• Accomplishments of environmental audits by students at American colleges and universities

• Specific examples– Oberlin College, OH: nation’s greenest college– Northland College, WI: “green” residence hall– Buying local and organic food– Producing renewable energy

Ecofriendly Environmental Living and Learning Center, Northland College, Wisconsin

Fig. 24-11, p. 654