1. Chapter 21 Environmental Policy

2. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1.Why have environmental issues become so important in American politics and policymaking? 2.Does the public get the environmental laws it wants? TO WHAT ENDS? TO WHAT ENDS? 1.If we wish to have cleaner air and water, how far should we go in making them cleaner when the cost of each additional gain goes up? 2.What is the best way for the government to achieve an environmental goal: by issuing orders or offering incentives?

3. Warm-up What would you do page 558 What would you do page 558 Copyright © 2011 Cengage

4. M E M O R A N D U M To: Senator Diane Gray From: Keith Mays, legislative assistant Until recently, you could get a tax cut if you bought a hybrid car. But it was only available for the first 60,000 cars built by any manufacturer. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

5. Arguments for incentives: 1. We need to reduce gasoline consumption and our dependence on foreign oil. 2. Hybrid cars consume much less gasoline. 3. A tax break to buyers of hybrid vehicles that rely on both electric and gasoline engines will provide a stable market that will encourage sales. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

6. Arguments against incentives: 1. We can more easily cut fuel consumption by raising taxes on gasoline. 2. Many hybrids get worse gas mileage than several conventional cars. 3. The past tax breaks, with the 60,000 car cap, were essentially a support for domestic car builders who were being beaten in the market by Japanese producers. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

7. Your decision: Support?Oppose? Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

8. The American Context 1=much more adversarial than in most European Nations (environment vs economics) 1=much more adversarial than in most European Nations (environment vs economics) 2=policy depends on states (mandates by Washington DC, implemented by States (sewage plants) 2=policy depends on states (mandates by Washington DC, implemented by States (sewage plants) Copyright © 2011 Cengage

9. The American Context Entrepreneurial Politics Entrepreneurial Politics Pollution from stationary sourcesPollution from stationary sources Many hope to benefit from rules impose costs on a few firmsMany hope to benefit from rules impose costs on a few firms Copyright © 2011 Cengage The fight over climate change pits people who use coal with those who oppose burning it. Source: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

10. Copyright © 2011 Cengage

11. Majoritarian Politics Majoritarian Politics Pollution from automobiles=many hope to benefit/many pay the costsPollution from automobiles=many hope to benefit/many pay the costs Copyright © 2011 Cengage Auto makers are bringing out more hybrid cars that use less gasoline. Source: Raymond Forbes/Masterfile Highway congestion in California gets worse and uses up a lot of fuel. Source: Hendrik Holler/PhotoLibrary

12. Interest group politics Acid rain=regions hurt by acid rain (mainly NE) argue with regions that produce a lot (Midwest) fight over who pays/responsible Acid rain=regions hurt by acid rain (mainly NE) argue with regions that produce a lot (Midwest) fight over who pays/responsible Copyright © 2011 Cengage

13. Acid Rain Created by high sulfur producing factories Created by high sulfur producing factories Congress voted for scrubbers in all factories Congress voted for scrubbers in all factories 1. created jobs for miners, 2 environmentalists liked scrubbers, 3 scrubber manufacturers liked it, 4 expensive to factories will stay put and not move 1. created jobs for miners, 2 environmentalists liked scrubbers, 3 scrubber manufacturers liked it, 4 expensive to factories will stay put and not move Copyright © 2011 Cengage

15. Client Politics Client Politics Agricultural pesticides=farmers manage to minimize federal control over the use of pesticidesAgricultural pesticides=farmers manage to minimize federal control over the use of pesticides Copyright © 2011 Cengage Environmentalists have used the protection of endangered species, such as the spotted owl, as a way of reducing timber harvests. p. 564 Source: William Campbell/ Corbis Pesticides help grow better crops, but some worry they may harm the environment. p. 564 Source: Jack Clark/ The Image Works

16. Global Warming Causes (fossil Fuels) Causes (fossil Fuels) Earth Day 4/22 Earth Day 4/22 EPA Created 1970=Clean Air Act, Water Quality Improvement Act, Endangered Species Act EPA Created 1970=Clean Air Act, Water Quality Improvement Act, Endangered Species Act Copyright © 2011 Cengage

17. Global Warming 3 difficult questions 3 difficult questions 1=how much greenhouse gas causes earth’s temperature to rise? 1=how much greenhouse gas causes earth’s temperature to rise? 2=what would it cost in lost productivity and income to reduce? 2=what would it cost in lost productivity and income to reduce? 3=how large would the gains to humankind, and when would they occur? 3=how large would the gains to humankind, and when would they occur? Copyright © 2011 Cengage

18. Global Warming Liberals=raise money with scary statements about harm global warming will cause Liberals=raise money with scary statements about harm global warming will cause Conservatives=raise money with scary statements about the economic pain the cut in greenhouse gases will cause Conservatives=raise money with scary statements about the economic pain the cut in greenhouse gases will cause Copyright © 2011 Cengage

19. Majoritarian politics when people believe the costs are low Environmental impact statement=must be written before federal agency undertakes an activity that will “significantly” affect the quality of the human environment Environmental impact statement=must be written before federal agency undertakes an activity that will “significantly” affect the quality of the human environment Copyright © 2011 Cengage

20. Majoritarian politics when people believe the costs are high ex=gasoline tax ex=gasoline tax Helps environment not good enough Helps environment not good enough Need to give concrete things to people=more highways, buses, reduce federal deficit, etc. Need to give concrete things to people=more highways, buses, reduce federal deficit, etc. Copyright © 2011 Cengage

21. What is the problem? What is the problem? What Are the Costs and Benefits? What Are the Costs and Benefits? What Are Our Goals? What Are Our Goals? How Do We Achieve Our Goals? How Do We Achieve Our Goals? Cap and Trade Cap and Trade Copyright © 2011 Cengage The Environmental Uncertainties

22. Some ideas Offsets=if a company wants to open a new plant in an area with polluted air, it can do so if the pollution it generates is offset by a reduction in pollution from another source in that area Offsets=if a company wants to open a new plant in an area with polluted air, it can do so if the pollution it generates is offset by a reduction in pollution from another source in that area Copyright © 2011 Cengage

23. Ideas Bubble standard=total amount of air pollution that can come from a given factory (company is free to decide how to reduce emissions) Bubble standard=total amount of air pollution that can come from a given factory (company is free to decide how to reduce emissions) Copyright © 2011 Cengage

24. ideas Pollution allowances or banks=if a company reduces more than what is required by law, it can either use this excess to cover future plant expansion or sell it to another company Pollution allowances or banks=if a company reduces more than what is required by law, it can either use this excess to cover future plant expansion or sell it to another company Copyright © 2011 Cengage

25. Cap and trade Was a bill trying to be passed in 2009 by HR (R ), Idea that emissions allowed imposed by these caps would decline as the years passed, firms that produced less emissions could sell remainder Was a bill trying to be passed in 2009 by HR (R ), Idea that emissions allowed imposed by these caps would decline as the years passed, firms that produced less emissions could sell remainder Liberals argued businesses are paying to pollute Liberals argued businesses are paying to pollute Did not pass Did not pass Copyright © 2011 Cengage

26. Results Environment has been better since 1970 Environment has been better since 1970 Less Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide Less Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide Trying to clean up hazardous waste sites, reduce pesticide use Trying to clean up hazardous waste sites, reduce pesticide use Typically, politicians want to be pro- environment without enforcing/imposing regulations that would cost a lot to the people Typically, politicians want to be pro- environment without enforcing/imposing regulations that would cost a lot to the people Copyright © 2011 Cengage