03_00-CS.JPG

Ch. 3 Policy and History

03_01b.JPG

03_00CO.JPG

Downstream

03_T01.JPG

WHAT

What is Environmental Policy and Why is it needed?

• Environmental policy aims to protect environmental quality AND to protect equity in use of resources– Protects commons– Prevents “free riders” with law, regulations,

or taxing– Addresses external costs borne by those

other than buyers/sellers

03_02.JPG

Policy plays central role in how we address environmental problems. How are policies established?

• Policy Input– Science: information and analysis– Ethics & Economics: criteria to assess

extent/nature of problem– Government: intersects with citizens,

organizations, private sector to find solutions

• Example: Tijuana River– Science:

• sewage produces pathogens/hypoxia

– Ethics/Economics: • Beach closures, • $ losses from recreation/tourism• Those downstream suffer

– Government: • Tijuana River Valley Estuary and Beach Cleanup Act

– Funds for sewage treatment

++

• Perception: overly restrictive• Costs to developers: permits,

monitoring, oversight• Gradual development of most

environmental problems or “frog in pot”

Factors Hindering Environmental Policy

• http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/~/media/Images/KHN%20Features/2011/October/24%2028/Revolving%20Door%20350.jpg

• Policy Approaches–Command and Control:

• Most common• “Command and Control” or rules and

punishment

– Subsidies• Government gift of cash/resources to encourage

activity seen as beneficial• Controversial – for example the General Mining

Law of 1872 allows up to $1 billion of minerals to be extracted from public land without royalties to taxpayers

• Green Scissors Report (p. 9) claims that in 2003 $58 billion subsidies provided for 68 activities that harmed the environment

Alternatives to C and C

• Green Taxes – help to internalize external costs Ex. EU taxes on energy

• Tax incentives – encourage resource

conservation

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=y3JNey4y7BRFLM&tbnid=bamJwSv22OMWfM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/cap-and-trade-is-alive-and-well/&ei=uD84UvGqFLfF4AOwxYDQBQ&bvm=bv.52164340,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNH0um51C-Pm9tnYFrqRCd3vJksJPw&ust=1379504429262948

03_20.JPG

• Permit Trading or “Cap and Trade” – Government creates market in permits– Issues permits to companies who may buy,

sell, or trade them– Company that reduces its pollution may sell

its credit to another– NGOs may buy and “retire” credits– “hot spots” of pollution - criticism

• Environmental Defense Fund – proponents of cap and trade

• Program resulted from amendments to Clean Air Act in 1990

• 35% reductions in SO2 by 2005

• Waves of legislation– 1. Early – through late 1800’s – promoted

settlement and use of resources– Ex. Homestead Act 1862 – if one lives,

cultivates, builds on federal land for 5 years – 160 acres becomes their property

03_07a.jpg

Waves of legislation1. Early – through late 1800’s – promoted settlement and use of resources

03_07b.jpg

• 2nd wave of legislation - Late 1800’s through early 1900’s

• Shift toward mitigation of impacts caused by first

• Creation of national parks, forest preserves, wildlife refuges

03_07c.JPG

03_08.JPG

3rd wave - Mid to late 20th century

– responded to pollution resulting from prosperity

–Prompting Events:• Silent Spring• Cuyahoga River

Fires• Santa Barbara Oil

Spill 1969–Result: today air,

water cleaner

03_09.JPG

Cuyahoga River caught fire several times in 50’s and 60’s

03_10a.jpg

Social Context 60s and 70s-evidence of widespread environmental problems-could visualize policies and solutions-supportive leaders

Changed in 80s – perception that env. laws hurt business

03_16.JPG

• 1970 – Dawn of Modern Era of Environmental Policy

• Jan 1, 1970 Nixon signed NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act– Created Council on Environmental Quality –

evolved into the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

– Required Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)

03_11.JPG

• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)– Filed for any major action that involved federal

funding ex. Dam, highway, building– Include:

• Nature of proposal and need• Environmental impacts of proposal – short-term

and long-term• Alternatives to reduce adverse effects

03_SSB02-T01.JPG

• United Nations – UN Environmental Programme• European Union: can sign treaties on behalf of 27

member nations – same authority as national law• NGOs – nongovernmental organizations

– Nature Conservancy, Greenpeace, Conservational International, Sierra Club

• WTO – World Trade Organization : represents multinational corporations

• World Bank – loans to poor countries for major projects including dams

International Policy

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=BhRuMwZT2EG3NM&tbnid=IxxcN8CnWwzlgM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.elrst.com/tag/montreal-protocol/&ei=XT84UvORJdHe4AP9v4HQBg&bvm=bv.52164340,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNGwteg_e3ObpHzY44tm9nzQSMFCeA&ust=1379504324699743

• Montreal Protocol summary– 1987– 160 nations agreed to reduce ozone depleting

chemicals– Most successful environmental treaty thus far

• Montreal Protocol video – What factors contributed to its success?