1. United States Environmental Policy

2. Environmental Policy
General plans and principles for addressing interactions between humans and the environment.
Aims to:
protect environmental quality,
protect natural resources,
and make sure resources are shared fairly.

3. If approved by congress it passes to the Executive Branch.
Legislative Branch
A law is introduced to the gov. by the House of Representatives or the Senate.
If approved by congress it passes to the Executive Branch.

4. Executive Branch
Once the law is approved, it passes to an agency that enforces it. Examples - EPA, U. S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service

5. Consists of Supreme Court and lower courts who interpret laws.
Judicial Branch
Consists of Supreme Court and lower courts who interpret laws.
Necessary because society changes and environmental advocates want the laws to be upheld.
Businesses will challenge environmental laws.

7. State and Local Policy Policies can be created at local level
Structure of the federal gov. is mirrored at state level
Local laws cannot violate federal laws!

8. "California, New York, and Massachusetts are examples of states with strong environmental laws and well-funded environmental agencies."
Matrix of laws

9. History of US Environmental Policy

10. The first period (1780s to late 1800s)
Westward expansion was endless
Displaced millions of Native Americans
Laws made based on management of public lands

11. The second period (late 1800s to mid 1900s)
As people moved westward they overused many resources
Laws made reflected this realization - Forest Reserve Act of 1891, soil conservation laws of the 1930s and the Wilderness Act of 1964
(Became the national forest system, national wildlife refuge system, and national park system)

12. The third period (mid to late 1900s)
America now driven by technology, densely populated
Better off, but living amongst dirtier conditions
2 events sparked awareness of environmental issues
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Fires on the oil polluted Cuyahoga River

13. Cuyahoga River Cuyahoga river burns
BP oil spill pics
Cuyahoga River

14. "inspired widespread public concerns with pesticides and pollution of the environment. Silent Spring facilitated the ban of the pesticide DDT in 1972 in the United States."
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15. Modern Environmental Policy
Began around 1970
1st Earth Day April 22
Pres. Nixon signs the National Environmental Policy Act
Evaluates the environmental impact of new projects before they take place
Nixon then forms the EPA
To oversee all environmental issues

16. EPA Conducts & evaluates research Monitors environmental quality
Sets & enforces standards for pollution levels
Educates the public
Assists states in meeting federal standards
Explore the EPA Massachusetts site
Search your environment by zip code on EPA website

17. Clean Water Act
Primary federal law in the US governing water pollution.
Regulates the discharge of wastes into rivers and streams

18. Section 3 International Environmental Policy & Approaches

19. International Environmental Policy
Ways to help governments across the globe come to an agreement on environmental issues.
United Nations
European Union
World Trade Organization
World Bank
Non-governmental organizations NGOs

20. Major International Treaties
Antarctic Treaty System
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Kyoto Protocol
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Antarctica Treaty System – Antarctica be used for peaceful purposes and scientific research only
Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – trade of animal or plant across national borders will not threaten the species
Kyoto Protocol – reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases to below that of industrialized and Unindustrialized were not held to the same standards.
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer – due to the signing of 190 nations 20 years after its formation, there is evidence to suggest that the ozone layer thinning had slowed.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – Takes the place of the Kyoto protocol which expired in 2012.

21. Approaches to Environmental Policy

22. Tax Breaks & Subsidies
Tax breaks for industries that perform environmentally friendly actions (reducing emissions, solar panels)
Subsidy – money or resource given to encourage particular actions

23. Green Taxes
Taxes placed on companies that perform harmful actions to the environment.
Not common in U.S.
Money collected is used to cleanup area
Attempts to encourage companies to change bad practices.

24. Cap-and-Trade
Government decides the max quantity of a pollutant and issues permits to particular companies.
Can be bought, sold, & traded
Cons Gives companies the right to pollute
Particular companies can buy many permits and pollute a lot legally

25. Local Incentives Efforts on the local level: Charge for waste disposal
Rebates for water-efficient toilets, Energy Star appliances, etc.