1. Politics, Environment, and Sustainability
Chapter 25
Politics, Environment, and Sustainability

2. Chapter Overview Questions
What is the environmental policy cycle?
How is environmental policy made?
What is the role of environmental law in dealing with environmental problems?
What are the major types and roles of environmental groups and their opponents?
What types of global environmental policies and treaties exist, and how might they be improved?

3. Updates Online
The latest references for topics covered in this section can be found at the book companion website. Log in to the book’s e-resources page at to access InfoTrac articles.
InfoTrac: Home on the (artillery) range. Kevin Krajick. OnEarth, Summer 2006 v28 i2 p6(2).
InfoTrac: Fowl runoff spurs fierce poultry fight. Chicago Tribune, June 13, 2006.
InfoTrac: The catch: what happens when industry insiders write their own regulations? Michael W. Robbins. Mother Jones, March-April 2006 v31 i2 p49(6).
Convention on Biological Diversity
Environmental Literacy Council: U.S. Endangered Species Act

4. Core Case Study: Rescuing a River
In the 1960s, the Nashua River was considered one of the nation’s filthiest rivers.
Marrion Stoddart (left) used politics to help clean-up the river.
Figure 25-1

5. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Developing environmental policy involves identifying a problem and its causes, coming up with a solution, implementing the solution, and monitoring and adapting the solution as needed.

6. Recognition Identify the problem. Formulation Look for solutions.
Implementation Implement solutions.
Control Things are improving.
Nonpoint-source water pollution
Global warming
Acid deposition
Outdoor air pollution
Urban sprawl
Ozone depletion
Indoor air pollution
Nuclear wastes
Sewage treatment
Reuse
Municipal solid waste
Biodiversity protection
Drinking water treatment
Mining wastes
Pollution prevention
Protecting endangered species
Groundwater contamination
Point-source water pollution
Toxic wastes
Environmentally harmful subsidies
Resource productivity
Pest control
Recycling
Figure 25.2
Politics: positions of several major environmental problems in the policy life cycle in most developed countries. QUESTION: Which two of the problems in the first column and which two of the solutions in the second column do you think need to be moved to the implementation stage on an urgent basis? Why hasn’t this been done?
Market prices do not include environmentally harmful costs
Soil erosion
Some infectious diseases
Aquifer depletion
Environmental justice
Need for integrated environmental management
Sustainable economic development
Fig. 25-2, p. 593

7. Biodiversity protection Resource productivity
Recognition
Identify the problem.
Nonpoint-source
water pollution
Indoor air pollution
Reuse
Mining wastes
Groundwater
contamination
Environmentally
harmful subsidies
Market prices do
not include
environmentally
harmful costs
Need for integrated
environmental
Management
Formulation
Look for solutions.
Global warming
Urban sprawl
Nuclear wastes
Biodiversity protection
Pollution prevention
Toxic wastes
Resource productivity
Aquifer depletion
Environmental
justice
Sustainable
economic
Development
Implementation
Implement solutions.
Acid deposition
Ozone depletion
Municipal solid waste
Protecting
endangered
species
Pest control
Soil erosion
Control
Things are improving.
Outdoor air pollution
Sewage treatment
Drinking water
treatment
Point-source water
pollution
Recycling
Some infectious
Diseases
Stepped Art
Fig. 25-2, p. 593

8. DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN DEMOCRACIES: SOME DIFFICULTIES
Democracies have difficulty dealing with long-term, interrelated environmental problems.
In passing laws, developing budgets, and formulating regulations, elected and appointed officials must deal with pressures from.

9. Principles for Making Environmental Policy Decisions: Some Guidelines
Existing or proposed environmental policies should be guided by several principles:
The humanity principle.
The reversibility principle.
The precautionary principle.
The polluter pays principle.
The integrative principle.
The public participation principle.
The human rights principle.
The environmental justice principle.

10. Influencing Environmental Policy
What Can You Do?
Influencing Environmental Policy
• Become environmentally literate on issues
• Run for office (especially at local level)
• Make your views known at public hearings
• Make your views known to elected representatives
• Contribute money and time to candidates for office
• Vote
Figure 25.4
Individuals matter: ways you can influence environmental policy. QUESTION: Which three of these actions do you think are the most important?
• Form or join nongovernment organizations (NGOs) seeking change
• Support reform of election campaign financing to increase the influence of ordinary citizens on government policy
Fig. 25-4, p. 595

11. Principles for Making Environmental Policy Decisions: Some Guidelines
Most improvements in environmental quality result from citizens putting pressure on elected officials and individuals developing innovative solutions to environmental problems.
Each of us can play a leadership role in establishing and changing environmental policy.

12. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES
Formulating, legislating, and executing environmental policy in the U.S. is a complex, difficult, and controversial process.
Lobbying consists individuals or groups use public pressure, personal contacts, and political action to persuade legislators to vote in their favor.
Most environmental bills are evaluate by as many as ten committees in the U.S. House of representatives and Senate.

13. Special-interest groups
Lobbyists
Lobbyists
Lawmaking body
Public
hearing
Special-interest groups
Public
advisory
Regulating enforcement body
Laws and
regulations
Legal action
Legal action
Lawyers
Lawyers
Environmental organizations
Courts
Corporations and small business
Laws and
regulations
Figure 25.6
Individuals matter: greatly simplified overview of how individuals and lobbyists for and against an environmental law interact 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
Boycotts
Individual
Fig. 25-6, p. 598
Purchase recyclable,
recycled, &
environmentally safe products
Recycle cans,
bottles, paper,
& plastic
Plant a
garden
Donate clothes
& used goods
to charities
Use water,
energy, & other
Resources
efficiently
Use mass transit, walk,
ride a bike,
or carpool

14. President
White House Office
Office of Management and Budget
Council on Environmental Quality
• Overall policy • Agency coordination
• Budget • Agency coordination and management
• Environmental policy • Agency coordination • Environmental impact statements
Dept of Health & Human Services
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of Justice
Department of the Interior
Department of Agriculture
Department of Defense
• Health
• Air & water pollution • Noise • Pesticides • Solid waste • Radiation • Toxic substances
• Endangered species • Energy • Minerals • National parks • Public lands • Fish and wildlife • Water development
• Civil works construction • Dredge & fill permits • Pollution control from defense facilities
• Soil conservation • Forestry
• Environmental litigation
Figure 25.5
Major federal agencies concerned with establishing regulations and implementing environmental laws in the United States. Such agencies are established by Congress but are run by the president as part of the executive branch of government. This diagram shows only the environmental responsibilities of these agencies. Many have a broad range of other responsibilities.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of State
Department of Commerce
Department of Labor
Department of Transportation
• Licensing and regulation of nuclear power
• International environment
• Oceanic and atmospheric monitoring and research
• Occupational health
• Housing • Urban parks • Urban planning
• Airplane noise • Mass transit • Oil pollution • Roads
• Energy policy • Petroleum allocation
Department of Energy
Tennessee Valley Authority
• Electric power generation
Fig. 25-5, p. 597

15. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Individual citizens and lobbyists can influence how the bill is written before it is introduced and through subsequent stages.
Figure 25-7

16. Senate Law Fig. 25-7, p. 599 How a Bill Becomes a Law
House of Representatives
Senate
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 • Alternatives similar to those of the House
Referral to Standing Committee by leadership and parliamentarian
Calendar placement
Committee Action • Possible referral to subcommittee • Hearings on major bills common • Committee decisions: Table, Defeat, Accept and report, Amend and report, Rewrite
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.
Calendar Placement
Figure 25.7
How a bill introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives becomes a law. Individual citizens and lobbying groups (Figure 25-6) can influence how the bill is written before it is introduced as well as what happens to it at every stage of this complex process. Once a bill is signed into law, it goes to appropriations committees in both the House and the Senate for agreement on how much funding it will receive. Without adequate funding, a law cannot be implemented. Continued intervention by individuals and lobbying groups can be very important at this stage.
Rules Committee (major bills)
Hearings to decide whether bill will go to the floor earlier than calendar date.
Back to the Senate Floor
Bill is signed by Speaker and Vice-President.
House Floor Action • Reading, general debate • Second reading • Amendment(s) report to the House • Third reading • Passage or defeat
President
• Approve • Veto • Pocket veto • Permit bill to become law without his or her signature
Law
Fig. 25-7, p. 599

17. Major Environmental Laws in the U.S.
Many of these laws have been amended (weakened or strengthened) since 1969.
Figure 25-8

18. Case Study: Managing Public Lands in the U.S. – Politics in Action
Since the 1800s, controversy has swirled around how publicly owned lands in the U.S., which contain valuable resources, should be used and managed.
Figure 25-4

19. How Would You Vote?
To conduct an instant in-class survey using a classroom response system, access “JoinIn Clicker Content” from the PowerLecture main menu for Living in the Environment.
Should much more of U.S. public lands (or government-owned lands in the country where you live) be opened up to the extraction of timber, mineral, and energy resources?
a. Yes. Current technologies allow the needed resources to be recovered without significant environmental damage.
b. No. For the sake of wildlife, future generations and the environment, some areas should remain indefinitely pristine.

20. Lands managed by the U.S. federal government.
U.S. citizens jointly own these and other public lands.
Figure 25-9

21. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND LAWS
The body of environmental laws is constantly evolving through legislation and lawsuits. It includes:
Statutory laws: passed by legislative bodies.
Administrative laws: consist of rules and regulations, executive orders, and enforcement decisions.
Common law: A body of unwritten rules derived from past legal decisions.

22. Lawsuits: Loaded Dice
Environmental lawsuits are expensive and difficult to win because:
Plaintiff must establish they have the legal right to bring the suit to a particular court.
Too expensive for most individuals.
Public interest law firms many times cannot recover legal fees.
Plaintiff must establish that they were harmed.
Statutes of limitations.

23. Major Types of Environmental Laws in the U.S.
U.S. environmental laws set pollution standards, screen for toxic substances, evaluate environmental impacts, encourage resource conservation, and protect various ecosystems and species from harm.

24. Major Types of Environmental Laws in the U.S.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency.
An environmental impact statement (EIS) must be developed for every major federal project likely to have an important effect on environmental quality.

25. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND THEIR OPPONENTS
Environmental groups monitor environmental activities, work to pass and strengthen environmental laws, and work with corporations to find solutions to environmental problems.
Non-government agencies (NGOs) range from grassroots groups to global organizations.
NGOs help expose corruption and violation of national and international agreements.

26. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND THEIR OPPONENTS
Some grassroots NGOs use nonviolent and nondestructive tactics of protest and demonstrations for generating publicity to help educate and sway members of the public.

27. How Would You Vote?
To conduct an instant in-class survey using a classroom response system, access “JoinIn Clicker Content” from the PowerLecture main menu for Living in the Environment.
Do you support the use of nonviolent and nondestructive civil disobedience tactics by environmental groups and individuals?
a. No. People who commit civil disobedience are criminals and their crimes could easily escalate into violence and vandalism.
b. Yes. Sometimes peaceful civil disobedience is the only way to bring about necessary changes.

28. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND THEIR OPPONENTS
Many student environmental groups work to bring about environmental improvements in their schools and local communities.
Environmental audits by students reveal that most college campuses are major polluters.
A Yale University study revealed that the school emits more greenhouse gases than 32 developing countries.

29. Case Study: Threats to the U. S
Case Study: Threats to the U.S. Environmental Legal and Regulatory Structure – Environmental Backlash
Three major groups are strongly opposed to many environmental laws, regulations and proposals:
Some corporate leaders who see environmental laws as threats to their wealth and power.
Citizens who see environmental laws as threats to their private property rights and jobs.
State and local government officials who resent having to implement federal environmental laws with little to no funding.

30. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Many analysts believe that environmental security is as important as military and economic security.
Some developing nations view the concept of environmental security as an agenda for rich countries to continue their control of the world’s natural resources.

31. How Would You Vote?
To conduct an instant in-class survey using a classroom response system, access “JoinIn Clicker Content” from the PowerLecture main menu for Living in the Environment.
Is environmental security just as important as economic and military security?
a. No. Terrorism, unemployment, hunger, and inflation are more urgent threats to most nations.
b. Yes. Environmental quality strongly influences the economies and security of most nations.

32. Global Efforts on Environmental Problems
Trade-Offs
Global Efforts on Environmental Problems
Good News
Bad News
Environmental protection agencies in 115 nations
Most international environmental treaties lack criteria for monitoring and evaluating their effectiveness
Over 500 international environmental treaties and agreements
1992 Rio Earth Summit led to nonbinding agreements without enough funding to implement them
UN Environment Programme (UNEP) created in 1972 to negotiate and monitor international environmental treaties
By 2003 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 25.10
Trade-offs: good and bad news about international efforts to deal with global environmental problems. QUESTION: Pick the single piece of good news and the single piece of bad news that you think are the most important.
2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit failed to provide adequate goals, deadlines, and funding for dealing with global environmental problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and poverty
2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit attempted to implement policies and goals of 1992 Rio summit and find ways to reduce poverty
Fig , p. 611

33. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
International environmental organizations:
Expand understanding of environmental issues.
Gather and evaluate environmental data.
Help develop and monitor environmental treaties.
Provide funds and loans for sustainable economic development.
Help nations develop environmental laws and institutions.

34. 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
Figure 25.11
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?
Lack of funding for monitoring and enforcement
Increase funding for monitoring and enforcement
Treaties are not integrated with one another
Harmonize or integrate existing agreements
Fig , p. 611

35. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Earth summits and international environmental treaties play important roles in dealing with global environmental problems, but most are not effectively monitored or enforced.
Making the shift to a more equitable and environmentally secure and sustainable global society is an economic, political, and ethical decision.