chapter 25 politics, environment, and sustainability

Chapter 25Chapter 25

Politics, Environment, Politics, Environment, and Sustainabilityand Sustainability

Chapter Overview QuestionsChapter Overview Questions

What is the environmental policy cycle?What is the environmental policy cycle? How is environmental policy made?How is environmental policy made? What is the role of environmental law in What is the role of environmental law in

dealing with environmental problems?dealing with environmental problems? What are the major types and roles of What are the major types and roles of

environmental groups and their opponents?environmental groups and their opponents? What types of global environmental policies What types of global environmental policies

and treaties exist, and how might they be and treaties exist, and how might they be improved?improved?

Core Case Study: Rescuing a RiverCore Case Study: Rescuing a River

In the 1960s, the In the 1960s, the Nashua River was Nashua River was considered one of the considered one of the nation’s filthiest rivers.nation’s filthiest rivers. Marrion Stoddart (left) Marrion Stoddart (left)

used politics to help used politics to help clean-up the river.clean-up the river.

Figure 25-1Figure 25-1

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICYENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Developing environmental policy involves Developing environmental policy involves identifying a problem and its causes, coming identifying a problem and its causes, coming up with a solution, implementing the solution, up with a solution, implementing the solution, and monitoring and adapting the solution as and monitoring and adapting the solution as needed.needed.

Fig. 25-2, p. 593

RecognitionRecognition

Identify the problem.

FormulationFormulation Look for

solutions.

ImplementationImplementation Implement solutions.

ControlControl Things are improving.

Nonpoint-source water pollution

Global warming Acid deposition Outdoor air pollution

Urban sprawlOzone depletion

Sewage treatment

Indoor air pollutionNuclear wastes

Municipal solid waste

Drinking water treatment

Reuse Biodiversity protection

Protecting endangered species

Mining wastes

Point-source water pollution

Pollution preventionGroundwater

contaminationToxic wastes

Pest control RecyclingEnvironmentally harmful subsidies Resource

productivitySoil erosion Some infectious

diseasesAquifer depletionMarket prices do not include environmentally harmful costs

Environmental justice

Sustainable economic development

Need for integrated environmental management

DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN DEMOCRACIES: PROBLEMS IN DEMOCRACIES:

SOME DIFFICULTIESSOME DIFFICULTIES Democracies have difficulty dealing with Democracies have difficulty dealing with

long-term, interrelated environmental long-term, interrelated environmental problems.problems. In passing laws, developing budgets, and In passing laws, developing budgets, and

formulating regulations, elected and appointed formulating regulations, elected and appointed officials must deal with pressures from.officials must deal with pressures from.

Principles for Making Environmental Principles for Making Environmental Policy Decisions: Some GuidelinesPolicy Decisions: Some Guidelines

Existing or proposed environmental policies should Existing or proposed environmental policies should be guided by several principles:be guided by several principles: The humanity principle.The humanity principle. The reversibility principle.The reversibility principle. The precautionary principle.The precautionary principle. The polluter pays principle.The polluter pays principle. The integrative principle.The integrative principle. The public participation principle.The public participation principle. The human rights principle.The human rights principle. The environmental justice principle.The environmental justice principle.

Fig. 25-4, p. 595

What Can You Do?

Influencing Environmental Policy

• Become environmentally literate on issues

• Make your views known at public hearings

• Run for office (especially at local level)

• Make your views known to elected representatives

• Contribute money and time to candidates for office

• Vote

• Form or join nongovernment organizations (NGOs) seeking change

• Support reform of election campaign financing to increase the influence of ordinary citizens on government policy

Principles for Making Environmental Principles for Making Environmental Policy Decisions: Some GuidelinesPolicy Decisions: Some Guidelines

Most improvements in environmental quality Most improvements in environmental quality result from citizens putting pressure on result from citizens putting pressure on elected officials and individuals developing elected officials and individuals developing innovative solutions to environmental innovative solutions to environmental problems.problems.

Each of us can play a leadership role in Each of us can play a leadership role in establishing and changing environmental establishing and changing environmental policy.policy.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN THE UNITED STATESUNITED STATES

Formulating, legislating, and executing Formulating, legislating, and executing environmental policy in the U.S. is a complex, environmental policy in the U.S. is a complex, difficult, and controversial process.difficult, and controversial process. LobbyingLobbying consists individuals or groups use consists individuals or groups use

public pressure, personal contacts, and political public pressure, personal contacts, and political action to persuade legislators to vote in their action to persuade legislators to vote in their favor.favor.

Most environmental bills are evaluate by as many Most environmental bills are evaluate by as many as ten committees in the U.S. House of as ten committees in the U.S. House of representatives and Senate.representatives and Senate.

Legal action

Regulating enforcement body

Publichearing

Fig. 25-6, p. 598

Lobbyists Lobbyists

Lawmaking body

Special-interest groups

Environmental organizations

Courts Corporations and small business

Individual

Publicadvisory

Laws andregulations

Lawyers

Boycotts

Membershipsupport

Laws andregulations

Purchase recyclable, recycled, &

environmentally safe products

Recycle cans,bottles, paper,

& plastic

Plant agarden

Donate clothes& used goods

to charities

Use water, energy, & other

Resourcesefficiently

Use mass transit, walk,ride a bike, or carpool

Legal action

Lawyers

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

How a Bill How a Bill Becomes a LawBecomes a Law

Individual citizens Individual citizens and lobbyists can and lobbyists can influence how the influence how the bill is written before bill is written before it is introduced and it is introduced and through subsequent through subsequent stages.stages.


Major Environmental Major Environmental Laws in the U.S.Laws in the U.S.

Many of these laws have Many of these laws have been amended been amended (weakened or (weakened or strengthened) since 1969.strengthened) since 1969.


Case Study: Managing Public Lands Case Study: Managing Public Lands in the U.S. – Politics in Actionin the U.S. – Politics in Action

Since the 1800s, Since the 1800s, controversy has swirled controversy has swirled around how publicly owned around how publicly owned lands in the U.S., which lands in the U.S., which contain valuable resources, contain valuable resources, should be used and should be used and managed.managed.


Lands Lands managed by managed by the U.S. the U.S. federal federal government.government.

U.S. citizens U.S. citizens jointly own jointly own these and these and other public other public lands.lands.


ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND LAWSENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND LAWS

The body of environmental laws is constantly The body of environmental laws is constantly evolving through legislation and lawsuits. It evolving through legislation and lawsuits. It includes:includes: Statutory lawsStatutory laws: passed by legislative bodies.: passed by legislative bodies. Administrative lawsAdministrative laws: consist of rules and : consist of rules and

regulations, executive orders, and enforcement regulations, executive orders, and enforcement decisions.decisions.

Common lawCommon law: A body of unwritten rules derived : A body of unwritten rules derived from past legal decisions.from past legal decisions.

Lawsuits: Loaded DiceLawsuits: Loaded Dice

Environmental lawsuits are expensive and Environmental lawsuits are expensive and difficult to win because:difficult to win because: Plaintiff must establish they have the legal right Plaintiff must establish they have the legal right

to bring the suit to a particular court.to bring the suit to a particular court. Too expensive for most individuals.Too expensive for most individuals. Public interest law firms many times cannot Public interest law firms many times cannot

recover legal fees.recover legal fees. Plaintiff must establish that they were harmed.Plaintiff must establish that they were harmed. Statutes of limitations.Statutes of limitations.

Major Types of Environmental Laws Major Types of Environmental Laws in the U.S.in the U.S.

U.S. environmental laws set pollution U.S. environmental laws set pollution standards, screen for toxic substances, standards, screen for toxic substances, evaluate environmental impacts, encourage evaluate environmental impacts, encourage resource conservation, and protect various resource conservation, and protect various ecosystems and species from harm.ecosystems and species from harm.

Major Types of Environmental Laws Major Types of Environmental Laws in the U.S.in the U.S.

The National Environmental Policy ActThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires evaluation of the (NEPA) requires evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency.by a federal agency. An An environmental impact statementenvironmental impact statement (EIS) must (EIS) must

be developed for every major federal project be developed for every major federal project likely to have an important effect on likely to have an important effect on environmental quality.environmental quality.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND THEIR OPPONENTSTHEIR OPPONENTS

Environmental groups monitor environmental Environmental groups monitor environmental activities, work to pass and strengthen activities, work to pass and strengthen environmental laws, and work with environmental laws, and work with corporations to find solutions to corporations to find solutions to environmental problems.environmental problems. Non-government agencies (NGOs) range from Non-government agencies (NGOs) range from

grassroots groups to global organizations.grassroots groups to global organizations. NGOs help expose corruption and violation of NGOs help expose corruption and violation of

national and international agreements.national and international agreements.


Some grassroots NGOs use nonviolent and Some grassroots NGOs use nonviolent and nondestructive tactics of protest and nondestructive tactics of protest and demonstrations for generating publicity to demonstrations for generating publicity to help educate and sway members of the help educate and sway members of the public.public.


Many student environmental groups work to Many student environmental groups work to bring about environmental improvements in bring about environmental improvements in their schools and local communities.their schools and local communities. Environmental audits by students reveal that Environmental audits by students reveal that

most college campuses are major polluters.most college campuses are major polluters. A Yale University study revealed that the school A Yale University study revealed that the school

emits more greenhouse gases than 32 emits more greenhouse gases than 32 developing countries.developing countries.

Case Study: Threats to the U.S. Case Study: Threats to the U.S. Environmental Legal and Regulatory Environmental Legal and Regulatory Structure – Environmental BacklashStructure – Environmental Backlash

Three major groups are strongly opposed to Three major groups are strongly opposed to many environmental laws, regulations and many environmental laws, regulations and proposals:proposals: Some corporate leaders who see environmental Some corporate leaders who see environmental

laws as threats to their wealth and power.laws as threats to their wealth and power. Citizens who see environmental laws as threats Citizens who see environmental laws as threats

to their private property rights and jobs.to their private property rights and jobs. State and local government officials who resent State and local government officials who resent

having to implement federal environmental laws having to implement federal environmental laws with little to no funding.with little to no funding.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICYGLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Many analysts believe that environmental Many analysts believe that environmental security is as important as military and security is as important as military and economic security.economic security. Some developing nations view the concept of Some developing nations view the concept of

environmental security as an agenda for rich environmental security as an agenda for rich countries to continue their control of the world’s countries to continue their control of the world’s natural resources.natural resources.

Fig. 25-10, p. 611

Trade-Offs

Global Efforts on Environmental Problems

Good News Bad News

Environmental protection agencies in 115 nations

Most international environmental treaties lack criteria for monitoring and evaluating their effectiveness

Over 500 international environmental treaties and agreements 1992 Rio Earth Summit led to nonbinding

agreements without enough funding to implement them

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) created in 1972 to negotiate and monitor international environmental treaties By 2003 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

provide adequate goals, deadlines, and funding for dealing with global environmental problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and poverty

2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit attempted to implement policies and goals of 1992 Rio summit and find ways to reduce poverty


International environmental organizations:International environmental organizations: Expand understanding of environmental issues.Expand understanding of environmental issues. Gather and evaluate environmental data.Gather and evaluate environmental data. Help develop and monitor environmental treaties.Help develop and monitor environmental treaties. Provide funds and loans for sustainable Provide funds and loans for sustainable

economic development.economic development. Help nations develop environmental laws and Help nations develop environmental laws and

institutions.institutions.

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


Earth summits and international Earth summits and international environmental treaties play important roles in environmental treaties play important roles in dealing with global environmental problems, dealing with global environmental problems, but most are not effectively monitored or but most are not effectively monitored or enforced.enforced.

Making the shift to a more equitable and Making the shift to a more equitable and environmentally secure and sustainable environmentally secure and sustainable global society is an economic, political, and global society is an economic, political, and ethical decision.ethical decision.