Andrea Lenschow Professor of European Integration at University of Osnabrück (Institute of Social Sciences)

Q1: What are the tensions between the ‚natural commons‘ and state boundaries? Q2: What citizenship responsibilities follow from the necessity to protect the environment in ways that transboundary effects are respected? Q3: What follows for individual behavior and what for politics?

‘California is in the middle of its worst draught since 1200 years’. Officials have implored Californians to cut down on water usage, but recent data show residents saved less water in February 2015 than in any other month since the state started tracking water conservation.

Over 1 trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide. The extremely slow decomposition rate of plastic bags leaves them to drift on the ocean for untold years. According to the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, these plastic bags cause the death of many marine animals. Only.5% to 3% of all bags gets recycled.

Emissions from transport continue to rise! The International Energy Agency 2014 World Energy Report states that while CO2 emissions from the energy sector are declining (especially in China!), global emissions from transport (road transport and international marine and aviation) continue to rise, despite regulatory efforts to improve technology.

Liberal vs. Post-cosmopolitan understanding of citizenship Liberal institution-oriented view (Rawls/Dworkin): citizenship duties consist in obedience with and promotion of (just) institutions capable to resolve collective action problems Post-cosmopolitan, lifestyle-oriented view (Dobson): given the territorially unbound nature of environmental protection and an obsolete distinction of public and private, the emphasis shifts from institutions to peoples’ lifestyle and virtuous behavior.

What follows for individual behavior? Dobson: individual behavior is only half of the story; as the stabilization of environmental citizenship relies on deep commitment and attitude change. “Liberals”: self-interested (rather than virtuously green) individuals will push institutions towards collectively binding rules; institutions produce stable solutions and secure environmental protection by targeting peoples’ behavior

Effects of public policies Dobson: limited utility of laws and incentives; emphasis on persuasion and education Liberal: especially incentive tools (environmental taxes, fees, bonuses) promising as they combine individual freedom with a steering towards environmental solutions

References Dobson, Andrew (2003). Citizenship and the Environment. OUP. Dobson, Andrew (2007). Environmental Citizenship: Towards Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development. 15, Dworkin, Ronald (1985). A Matter of Principle. Cambridge, MA. International Energy Agency. World Energy Outlook 2014, IEA/OECD. Neuteleers, Stijn (2010). Institutions vs. lifestyle: do citizens have environmental duties in their private sphere? Environmental Politics. 19(4), Rawls, John (1999). A theory of justice. (rev. ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press United Nations Development Programme. (2012) The critical role of global food consumption patterns in achieving sustainable food systems and food for all. UNEP Discussion Paper.