Politics, Environment, and Sustainability Chapter 24

Core Case Study: Rescuing a River 1960sa: Nashua River, Massachusetts, U.S. Marion Stoddard: Spearheaded the cleanup of the river How did she do it? Still clean after 40 years

Individuals Matter: Marion Stoddard Canoeing on the Nashua River

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

The Policy Life Cycle

Implementation Implement solutions Recognition Identify the problem Nonpoint-source water pollution Indoor air pollution Electronic waste Mining wastes Control Monitor and adjust Groundwater contamination Formulation Look for solutions Environmentally harmful subsidies Outdoor air pollution Global warming Exclusion of environmentally harmful costs from market prices Sewage treatment problems Urban sprawl Drinking water pollution Nuclear wastes Point-source water pollution Biodiversity losses Municipal solid waste Implementation Implement solutions Toxic wastes Some infectious diseases Aquifer depletion Acid deposition Figure 24.2 The policy life cycle, including positions of some major environmental problems within the cycle in most developed countries. Ozone depletion Municipal solid waste Endangered species Pest damage Soil erosion Fig. 24-2, p. 636

Implementation Implement solutions Recognition Identify the problem Nonpoint-source water pollution Indoor air pollution Electronic waste Mining wastes Groundwater contamination Environmentally harmful subsidies Formulation Look for solutions Global warming Urban sprawl Nuclear wastes Biodiversity losses Toxic wastes Aquifer depletion Control Monitor and adjust Outdoor air pollution Sewage treatment problems Drinking water pollution Point-source water pollution Some infectious diseases Municipal solid waste Exclusion of environmentally harmful costs from market prices Implementation Implement solutions Acid deposition Ozone depletion Municipal solid waste Endangered species Pest damage Soil erosion Figure 24.2 The policy life cycle, including positions of some major environmental problems within the cycle in most developed countries. Stepped Art Fig. 24-2, p. 636

Democracy Does Not Always Allow for Quick Solutions (1) 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

Individuals, Corporations, Environmental Organizations, U. S Individuals, Corporations, Environmental Organizations, U.S. Government Interact

Environmental organizations Corporations and small businesses Laws Legislative branch Executive branch Courts Lobbyists Lobbyists Regulators Public hearing Civil suits Environmental organizations Corporations and small businesses Figure 24.3 Greatly simplified overview of how individuals, corporations, and environmental organizations interact with each other and with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The bottom of this diagram also shows some ways in which individuals can bring about environmental change through their own lifestyles. (See the website for this book for details on contacting elected representatives.) Membership support Patronize or boycott Individuals Purchase recyclable, recycled, and environmentally safe products Use mass transit, walk, ride a bike, or carpool Recycle cans, bottles, paper, and plastic Plant a garden Donate clothes and used goods to charities Use water, energy, and other resources efficiently Fig. 24-3, p. 639

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

Natural Capital: National Forest, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, U.S.

National parks and preserves National forests (and Xs) National wildlife refuges Figure 24.5 Natural capital: national forests, national parks, and wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. federal government. U.S. citizens jointly own these and other public lands. Question: Do you think U.S. citizens should jointly own more or less of the nation’s land? Why or why not? (Data from U.S. Geological Survey) Fig. 24-5, p. 641

Science Focus: Logging in U.S. National Forests Is Controversial U.S. national forests managed by Principle of sustainable yield Principles of multiple use Timber cutting loses money Recreation, hunting, and fishing in the forests makes money and jobs

Individuals Can Influence Environmental Policy Individuals matter 2007: Chinese citizens opposed construction of a chemical plant Mobile phone text messaging spread the word “Think globally; act locally”

Global Outlook: Children in Turin, Italy, Protesting High Levels of Air Pollution

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) 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 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

Individuals Matter: Diane Wilson 1989: Lavaca, Bay, TX, U.S. Hg superfund site Sued Formosa Plastics Author and activist for environmental and social justice

Diane Wilson, author of An Unreasonable Woman

Arbitration and Mediation Are Alternatives to Battling in Court 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

Case Study: The Natural Resources Defense Council (2) BioGems Network 2005: Blocked the EPA from finalizing “blending” proposal 2001: Protect vast area of Great Bear Rainforest from logging

Grassroots Environmental Groups Bring about Change from the Bottom Up Global sustainability movement Conservation land trusts Effect on Home Depot and Lowe’s lumber Citigroup, Bank of America, and J P Morgan Chase: more eco-friendly

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

Students and Educational Institutions Can Play Important Environmental Roles Student pressure on campuses to carry out environmental audits Since June 2007, 458 university presidents add no additional CO2 emissions to their campuses Arizona State University: Global Institute for Sustainability Berea College, KY: Ecovillage apartments

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)

Trade-Offs: Global Efforts to Solve Environmental Problems

TRADE-OFFS Good News Bad News Global Efforts to Solve Environmental Problems Good News Bad News Environmental 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 funding UN 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 Figure 24.9 Good and bad news about international efforts to deal with global environmental problems. Question: What single piece of good news and what single piece of bad news do you think are the most important? 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. 24-9, p. 654

Solutions: International Environmental Treaties

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 Figure 24.10 Global outlook: major problems with global environmental treaties and agreements and solutions to these problems. Question: Which problem and which solution do you think are the most important? Increase funding for monitoring and enforcement Treaties are not integrated with one another Harmonize or integrate existing agreements Fig. 24-10, p. 655

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 New Zealand Sweden The Netherlands

Green Planning Can Be a National Priority (2) 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 (1) 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

We Can Shift to More Environmentally Sustainable Societies (2) Making this shift involves Economic decisions Political decisions Ethical decisions