BESC 201 9 25 2013 Lecture 12 Outline of Last Lecture I Environmental Policy Outline of Current Lecture II International Environmental Policy III Science and the Environmental Policy Process IV Approaches to Environmental Policy Current Lecture 9 27 2013 International Environmental Policy International law is vital to solving transboundary problems International law includes customary law and conventional law Customary Law arises from long standing practices held in common by most cultures Conventional Law arises from conventions or treaties into which nations enter North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA treaty that influences many social economic and environmental issues Several organizations shape international environmental policy The United Nations United Nations U N seeks to maintain international peace and security United Nations Environment Programme UNEP promotes sustainability with research and outreach activities that provide information to policymakers and scientists The World Bank World Bank one of the largest sources of funding for economic development Frequently been criticized for funding projects that cause more environmental problems than they solve The European Union European Union E U seeks to promote Europe s unity and its economic and social progress The World Trade Organization World Trade Organization WTO represents multinational corporations and promotes free trade by reducing obstacles to international commerce and enforcing fairness in trade The WTO has authority to impose financial penalties on nations that don t comply The WTO has interpreted some national environmental laws as unfair barriers to trade These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute o Critics have charged that the WTO aggravates environmental problems International treaties to promote commerce allow corporations to weaken environmental protection laws if they view them as barriers to trade Nongovernmental Organizations Nongovernmental Organizations NGOs international in scope and exert influence over international environmental policy Science and the Environmental Policy Process Policy results from a stepwise process 1 Identify a problem Scientific inquiry and data collection play key roles 2 Pinpoint causes of the problem Uses scientific research 3 Envision a solution Science is important but solutions rely on social or political action 4 Get organized Organizations are more effective than individuals 5 Cultivate access and influence People gain access and influence through lobbying and campaign contributions 6 Shepherd the solution into law Prepare a bill or draft law that embodies the desired solutions 7 Implement asses and interpret policy Administrative agencies implement regulations Science plays a role in policy but can be misused The more information a policymaker can get from scientific research the better policy he can craft Sometimes policymakers allow ideology alone to determine policy on scientific matters Approaches to Environmental Policy We follow three types of policy approaches Lawsuits in the courts Legislation and regulation can be viewed as more effective means of protecting public health and safety Command and control policy Command and control an agency prohibits certain actions or sets rules standards and threatens punishment for violations Economic policy tools Use financial incentives to promote desired outcomes discourage undesired outcomes and encourage private entities competing to innovate more solutions Green taxes discourage unsustainable activities Green Taxes taxes on environmentally harmful activities and products Reimbursing the public for environmental damage it causes Gives firms a financial incentive to reduce pollution while allowing them the freedom to decide how to do so Polluter Pays Principle In Europe the party that pollutes should be held responsible for covering the costs of its impacts Carbon Taxes taxes on gasoline coal based electricity and fossil fuel intensive products Businesses will most likely pass on their tax expenses to consumers Subsidies promote certain activities Subsidy government giveaway of money or resources that is intended to encourage a particular industry or activity Tax Break relieving the tax burden on an industry firm or individual Usually used to prop up unsustainable activity Permit trading can save money and produce results Permit Trading the government creates a market in permits for an environmentally harmful activity and companies are allowed to buy sell or trade rights to conduct the activity Emissions Trading System permits granted that have to do with emissions Cap and Trade government determines overall amount of pollution it will accept and then issue permits to polluters that allow them each to emit a certain fraction of that amount Permit trading can reduce expenses for industry and public Ecolabeling empowers consumers Ecolabeling manufactures designate on labels how their products were grown harvested or manufactured tells consumers which brands use environmentally benign processes Market incentives also operate at the local level Municipalities charge residents for waste disposal according to the amount of waste generated