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

Fig. 24-2, p. 636

Recognition Identify the problem

Nonpoint-source water pollution Indoor air pollution Electronic waste Mining wastes

Control Monitor and adjust Formulation

Look for solutions Groundwater contamination Environmentally harmful subsidies Outdoor air pollution Exclusion of environmentally harmful costs from market prices

Global warming Sewage treatment problems Urban sprawl Drinking water pollution Nuclear wastes Point-source water pollution Biodiversity losses Municipal solid waste Implementation

Implement solutions Toxic wastes

Acid deposition Some infectious diseases Aquifer depletion

Ozone depletion

Municipal solid waste Endangered species

Pest damage Soil erosion

Fig. 24-2, p. 636

Recognition Identify the problem

Nonpoint-source water pollution Indoor air pollution Electronic waste Mining wastes Groundwater contamination Environmentally harmful subsidies Exclusion of environmentally harmful costs from market prices

Control Monitor and adjust

Outdoor air pollution Sewage treatment problems Drinking water pollution Point-source water pollution

Some infectious diseases

Municipal solid waste

Stepped Art

Implementation Implement solutions

Acid deposition Ozone depletion

Municipal solid waste Endangered species

Pest damage Soil erosion

Formulation Look for solutions

Global warming Urban sprawl

Nuclear wastes Biodiversity losses Toxic wastes Aquifer depletion

Democracy Does Not Always Allow for Quick Solutions (1)

  Democracy

  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. Government Interact

Fig. 24-3, p. 639

Laws

Legislative branch Executive branch Courts

Lobbyists Lobbyists Regulators Public hearing

Civil suits

Environmental organizations

Corporations and small businesses

Membership support

Patronize or boycott

Individuals

Purchase recyclable, recycled, and environmentally safe products

Recycle cans, bottles, paper, and plastic

Plant a garden

Donate clothes and used goods to charities

Use water, energy, and other resources efficiently

Use mass transit, walk, ride a bike, or carpool

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.

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 •  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)

  Environmental law

  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. 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

  Arbitration •  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

Fig. 24-9, p. 654

TRADE-OFFS 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

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

Solutions: International Environmental Treaties

Fig. 24-10, p. 655

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

Poorly monitored and enforced

Establish procedures for monitoring and enforcement

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

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

  Green planning •  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