Politics, Environment, and Sustainability Chapter 24

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

Democracy Does Not Always Allow for Quick Solutions (1)  Democracy  United States Constitutional democracy Three branches of government Legislative Executive Judicial

n How a Bill Becomes a Law (if introduced in the House) House of Representatives Introduction of Bill by Member We will assume this is an appropriations bill, so the Constitution specifies that it be introduced in the House. Referral to Standing Committee by leadership and parliamentarian Committee Action Possible referral to subcommittee Hearings on major bills common Committee decisions: Table Defeat Accept and report Amend and report Rewrite Calendar Placement Rules Committee (major bills) Hearings to decide whether bill will go to the floor earlier than calendar date. House Floor Action Reading, general debate Second reading Amendment(s) report to the House Third reading Passage or defeat Senate Referral to Standing Committee by leadership and parliamentarian Committee Action Possible referral to subcommittee Alternatives similar to those of the House Calendar placement Senate Floor Action Alternatives similar to those of the House include rejection, acceptance, or additional amendments Conference Committee If the Senate approves a bill that is not identical to the one passed in the House, a conference committee is requested. This committee consists of appointed members from both houses who compromise on a final version of the bill.This compromise version is then sent to each house for final approval. Back to the Senate Floor Bill is signed by Speaker and Vice-President. President Approve Veto Pocket veto Permit bill to become law without his or her signature Law

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

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

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

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

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

Fig. 24-5, p. 641 National parks and preserves National forests (and Xs) National wildlife refuges

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

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

Body of Law  Types of law Statutory law Administrative law Common Law

Civil suits Nuisance Class action suit 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

SLAPPs  Strategic lawsuits against public participation  Frivolous lawsuits, brought by defendant, intended to intimidate or drain money from plaintiffs in a nuisance or negligence suit

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

Arbitration  Binding and nonbinding

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

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

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

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

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)