Environmental Science

Chapter 2

The Central Case Read the CENTRAL CASE for Chapter 2.

How can we best balance our own interests and needs with the health of the environment?

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics?How is sustainabillty affected

by economics?

Sustainability –

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? Economics –

Goods -

Services -

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? 3 types of economies

Centrally planned economy –

example: Free market economy –

Example:

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? Mixed economy

Example:

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? Supply and Demand

Supply and demand –

Cost-benefit analysis

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? All economies depend on the

environment for resources and for management of wastes, but these connections are often overlooked.

Quick Lab

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? Natural resources are the “goods”

produced by nature.

With no resources there would be no economics.

The ecological systems provide “ecosystem services” to the environment.

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? But, what is the impact on the

environment???

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? Wal-Mart's green revolution Economics and Sustainability

Ecological economics –

Environmental economics -

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? Non-market values

examples: figure 4

Market failure -

Section 1 – How is sustainability affected by economics? Ecolabeling -

Section 2 – How do environmental policies protect the environment? How do environmental policies protect

the environment

Section 2 – How do environmental policies protect the environment? Policy –

Environmental policy -

Section 2 – How do environmental policies protect the environment? The U.S. government has 3 branches:

Legislative

Executive

Judicial

State and Local policy -

Section 2 – How do environmental policies protect the environment? U.S. environmental policy – 3 periods

The First Period (1780-late-1800’s)

The Second Period (late-1800’s – mid-1900’s)

Section 2 – How do environmental policies protect the environment? The Third Period (mid to late 1900’s) -

Section 2 – How do environmental policies protect the environment? Modern US Environmental Policy

Reveals lessons learned from past misuses of resources and strives for a sustainable future.

National Environmental Policy Act –

Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)

Section 2 – How do environmental policies protect the environment? Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA)

Clean Water Act of 1977

Federal Water Pollution Control Acts of 1948 and 1972

Section 2 – How do environmental policies protect the environment? Post 1980 Acts

Section 3 – How do we form sound environmental policies? The United Nations (UN)

Founded in _________ Purpose: Now more than _____ nations are

members

The European Union (EU) Purpose:

Section 3 – How do we form sound environmental policies? The World Trade Organization

(WTO) Purpose: Established in ___________

World Bank Purpose: Established in:

Section 3 – How do we form sound environmental policies? Non-governmental Organizations

Section 3 – How do we form sound environmental policies? Approaches to Environmental

Policies Command and Control Approach-

Successes:

Failures:

Section 3 – How do we form sound environmental policies? Approaches to Environmental

Policies Tax Breaks and Subsidies

Green Taxes -

Section 3 – How do we form sound environmental policies? Approaches to Environmental

Policies Cap-and-Trade

Local Incentives

Section 3 – How do we form sound environmental policies? The Environmental Policy Process

1.

2.

3.

Section 3 – How do we form sound environmental policies? 4.

5.

6.