1 Ch.3: Environmental Policy: Decision Making and Problem Solving Environ. policies mitigate human impacts on environ. Federal policy involves 3 branches of govern. International policies or agreements are imp. How are environ. solutions transformed into policy? Carrots instead of sticks I. Environ. policy A. = policy involving human interactions with environ. 1. mitigate pollution 2. regulate use of resources 3. protect natural resources & systems B. Addresses equity & resource use 1. tragedy of the commons 2. external costs 3. obstacles – human nature (short-term vs. long-term costs/benefits) II. U.S. environ. policy A. 3 branches of federal govern. 1. legislative 2. executive (& administrative agencies) 3. judicial (supreme court & lower courts) B. State & local policies C. Constitutional amendments e.g., regulatory taking D. History of U.S. environ. policy 1. settlement & westward expansion (1700s) 2. mitigating environ. impacts of westward expansion (1800s-1900s) national parks (e.g., Yellowstone), wildlife refuges, & forest system 3. response to pollution (mid 1900s) a. Rachel Carson & Silent Spring b. Cuyahoga River on fire c. 1st Earth Day = 22 April 1970 E. Birth of modern environ. policies 1. (Nixon) National Environ. Policy Act (1970) 2. (Nixon) Environ. Protection Agency (EPA, 1970) pollution --- research, evaluate research, monitor, set standards 3. prominent laws --- Clean Water Act (1977) F. More recent attitudes (1980s-present) 1. Are environ. rules/laws economic burdens? ENV 2100 Environmental Science, Dr. L. Kelly2 2. change the message positive, inspiring show that environ. problems hurt people Table, p. 81, benefits far exceed costs 3. President Bush & republican-led congress (1994-2006) a. roll back & weaken laws b. politicizing science – Bush administration censors, manipulates scientific data p. 77 (example – Philip Cooney, lawyer, edited key documents on global climate) 4. U.S. no longer the leader in environ. policy 5. new wave? ---- sustainable development III. International environ. policy A. Address issues between nations B. Agreements may work in place of laws C. International laws (e.g., via conventions & treaties) e.g., Montreal Protocol (1987, 160 nations, ozone-depleting chemicals) 1. no real mechanism for enforcement Except funds, media attention, & peer pressure 2. international organizations a. United Nations (1945) --- international peace/security b. World Trade Organization (WTO) (1995) financial penalties but may aggravate environ. problems example -- “dirty” gas exported to U.S. c. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) examples: The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, etc. d. World Bank = one of world's largest funding institutions IV. Environ. policy process A. Major steps (pp. 74-76) 1. identify problems 2. identify specific causes of problems 3. devise solutions & set goals 4. get organized 5. communicating with/influencing politicians (i.e., access & clout) 6. pushing a bill or draft law through the legislature What influences policy decision making? B. Case study --- Tijuana, Mexico, & San Diego, CA, sewage 1. problem = untreated sewage in Tijuana River empties into Pacific ocean 2. specific causes = leaky (& overtaxed) sewage system in Tijuana, toxic dump sites, untreated wastes from homes and U.S.-owned factories in Tijuana3 (1990 treaty) international trt plant couldn't keep up with ever-increasing volume of waste 3. solutions = improve sewer/wastewater trt 4. get organized = San Diego-area resident, Lori Saldana argues against U.S-built plant that would dump partially-treated sewage into ocean; oceanographer 5. access/influence among politicians Internet and Sierra Club Specific solutions bilateral agreement: U.S. funds to improve, upgrade wastewater treatment (including leaky pipes) in Tijuana Tijuana plant built by private investors? V. Carrots instead of sticks rewards vs. “command-and-control” A. Command-and-control resulted in many, good laws 1. regulations have greater benefits than costs (table on p. 81) 2. would free market provide less costly results? B. Carrots 1. tax breaks 2. subsidies = govern. gives money or resources to encourage activities But many subsidies cause environ. harm 3. green taxes for environ. harmful activities 4. rebates for purchasing energy-efficient appliances 5. permit