Politics, Environment, and Sustainability

Chapter 24

24-1 The Role of 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.

Government Can Serve Environmental 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

Government Can Serve Environmental and Other Public Interests (2)

Policies and politics

Environmental policy

Policy life cycle: 4 stages• Recognition• Formulation• Implementation• Control

Fig. 24-2, p. 636

Recognition Identify the problem

Nonpoint-source water pollutionIndoor air pollution

Electronic waste

Mining wastes

Groundwater contamination

Environmentally harmful subsidiesExclusion 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

Global warming

Urban sprawl

Nuclear wastes

Biodiversity losses

Toxic wastes

Aquifer depletion

Democracy Does Not Always Allow for Quick Solutions (1)

Democracy

United States• Constitutional democracy• Three branches of government• Legislative• Executive• Judicial

Democracy Does Not Always 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

Certain Principles Can Guide Us in Making Environmental Policy (1)

The humility principle

The reversibility principle

The precautionary principle

The net energy principle

The preventive principle

Certain Principles Can Guide 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?

24-2 How Is Environmental 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.

24-2 How Is Environmental 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.)

How Democratic Government Works: The U.S. Model

Three branches• Legislative branch• Executive branch• Judicial branch

Develop and implement policy• Laws, regulation, and funding• Lobbying

Fig. 24-3, p. 639

Laws

Legislative branch Executive branch Courts

Lobbyists Lobbyists RegulatorsPublic 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

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

Developing Environmental Policy Is a Controversial Process

Funding needed

Regulations and rules needed to implement the law

Policy: important role in environmental regulatory agencies

Case Study: Managing Public Lands in the United States—Politics in Action (1)

35% of the U.S., ¾ in Alaska

Federal public land • National Forest System• National Resource Land• National Wildlife Refuges• National Park System• National Wilderness Preservation System

Case Study: Managing Public Lands in the United States—Politics in Action (2)

Public land use• Views of conservation biologists and

environmental economists• Views of developers, resource extractors, and

many economists

Since 2002: greater extraction of mineral, timber, and fossil fuel resources on public lands

Fig. 24-5, p. 641

National parks and preservesNational forests(and Xs) National wildlife refuges

What Can You Do? Influencing Environmental Policy

Environmental Leaders Can Make 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

24-3 What Is the 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.

Environmental Law Forms the Basis for Environmental Policy (1)

Environmental law

Body of law• Statutory laws• Administrative laws• Common law• Legal concept of nuisance or negligence

Environmental Law Forms the Basis for Environmental Policy (2)

Most environmental lawsuits are civil suits• Plaintiff• Defendant• Class action suit

Open Ditch Containing Acid Runoff from a Closed Coal Mine In W. Virginia, U.S.

Environmental Lawsuits Are Difficult to Win (1)

Has the plaintiff suffered health or financial problems?

Very expensive

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

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

Environmental Lawsuits Are Difficult to Win (2)

Statutes of limitation

Appeals: years to settle

Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

Major reforms are needed

Arbitration and Mediation Are Alternatives to Battling in Court

Arbitration• Can save time, money, and the uncertainly of a

jury trial

Mediation • Can save money and time• May not be legally binding

Major Types of Environmental Laws in the United States (1)

Set standards for pollution levels

Screens new substances

Encourages resource conservation

Major Types of Environmental Laws in the United States (2)

Sets aside or protects certain species, resources, and ecosystems

Requires evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency

U.S. Environmental Laws and Regulations Have Been under Attack (1)

Who is opposing the U.S. environmental laws?• Some corporate leaders and other powerful

people• Some citizens• Some state and local officials

Why are the opposition?

U.S. Environmental Laws and Regulations Have Been under Attack (2)

Since 2000, environmental laws weakened by executive orders and congressional actions

Prevent further weakening by• Science-based education• Education about the current state of the

environmental laws• Organized bottom-up political pressure from

concerned citizens

24-4 What Are the Major Roles of Environmental Groups?

Concept 24-4 Grassroots groups are growing and combining efforts with large environmental organizations in a global sustainability movement.

Citizen Environmental Groups Play Important Roles

Nonprofit nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working at all levels• International• National• State • Local

Grassroots groups to organizations

Examples of NGOs and their global policy networks

Case Study: The Natural Resources Defense Council (1)

NRDC• Goes to court to stop environmentally harmful

practices• Informs and organizes millions of environmental

activists to take actions to protect the environment• Website, magazines, and newspapers

Individuals Matter: Butterfly in a Redwood Tree

Julia Hill: Nonviolent civil disobedience• 2 Years in a redwood tree, named Luna• Protested cutting down these ancient trees• Did not save the surrounding forest• Her message: protect biodiversity

Science Focus: Greening American Campuses

Accomplishments of environmental audits by students at American colleges and universities

Specific examples• Morris A. Pierce: energy management plan• Oberlin College, OH: nation’s greenest college• Northland College, WI: “green” residence hall• Buying local and organic food• Yale University, CT • Santa Clara University, CA

• Dartmouth, NH: bus fueled by waste cooking oil

24-5 How Can We Improve Global Environmental Security?

Concept 24-5 Environmental security is necessary for economic security and is at least as important as military security.

Environmental Security Is as Important as Military and Economic Security

Military security

Economic security

All economies supported by the earth’s natural capital

Failing states: rooted in ecological crisis• Darfur, Sudan, Africa

Science Focus: Environmental Impacts of War (1)

Effects of a large bomb explosion

Contamination of military sites

Loss of biodiversity

Air and water pollution

Contaminated• Soil, Groundwater, Fish and wildlife

Science Focus: Environmental Impacts of War (2)

Economic and job losses

Displaced refugees

Landmines

Radioactive depleted uranium shells

1998: U.N. Environment Programme

We Can Develop Stronger International Environmental Policies (1)

United Nations: most influential• Family of global policy-making organizations

Other influential groups• E.g., the World Bank

NRDC and China

U.N. Conference of Environment and Development: Agenda 21

We Can Develop Stronger International Environmental Policies (2)

Montreal and Copenhagen Protocols

Yale and Columbia Universities, U.S. • Developed the Environmental Performance Index

(EPI)

Fig. 24-9, p. 654

TRADE-OFFS

Global Efforts to Solve Environmental Problems

Good News Bad NewsEnvironmental 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 fundingUN 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

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

Corporations Can Play a Key Role in Moving Toward Environmental Sustainability

Eco-efficiency

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

24-6 Implementing More Sustainable 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.

Green Planning Can Be 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

We Can Shift to 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