1. 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. 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. Marrion Stoddart (left) used politics to help clean-up the river. Figure 25-1

4. 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.

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

6. 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. In passing laws, developing budgets, and formulating regulations, elected and appointed officials must deal with pressures from.

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

8. Fig. 25-4, p. 595 What Can You Do? Influencing Environmental Policy Become environmentally literate on issues Make your views known at public hearings Run for office (especially at local level) Make your views known to elected representatives Contribute money and time to candidates for office Vote Form or join nongovernment organizations (NGOs) seeking change Support reform of election campaign financing to increase the influence of ordinary citizens on government policy

9. 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.

10. 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. 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. Most environmental bills are evaluate by as many as ten committees in the U.S. House of representatives and Senate.

11. Legal action Regulating enforcement body Public hearing Fig. 25-6, p. 598 Lobbyists Lawmaking body Special-interest groups Environmental organizations CourtsCorporations and small business Individual Public advisory Laws and regulations Lawyers Boycotts Membership support Laws and regulations 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 Legal action Lawyers

12. Fig. 25-5, p. 597 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 Environmental litigation Endangered species Energy Minerals National parks Public lands Fish and wildlife Water development Soil conservation Forestry Civil works construction Dredge & fill permits Pollution control from defense facilities Nuclear Regulatory Commission Department of State Department of Commerce Department of Labor Department of Housing and Urban Development 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 Tennessee Valley Authority Department of Energy Energy policy Petroleum allocation Electric power generation President

13. 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

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

15. 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

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

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

18. 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. Plaintiff must establish they have the legal right to bring the suit to a particular court. Too expensive for most individuals. Too expensive for most individuals. Public interest law firms many times cannot recover legal fees. Public interest law firms many times cannot recover legal fees. Plaintiff must establish that they were harmed. Plaintiff must establish that they were harmed. Statutes of limitations. Statutes of limitations.

19. 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.

20. 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. An environmental impact statement (EIS) must be developed for every major federal project likely to have an important effect on environmental quality.

21. 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. Non-government agencies (NGOs) range from grassroots groups to global organizations. NGOs help expose corruption and violation of national and international agreements. NGOs help expose corruption and violation of national and international agreements.

22. 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.

23. 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. 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. A Yale University study revealed that the school emits more greenhouse gases than 32 developing countries.

24. 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. 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. 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. State and local government officials who resent having to implement federal environmental laws with little to no funding.

25. 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. 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.

26. Fig. 25-10, p. 611 Trade-Offs Global Efforts on Environmental Problems Good NewsBad 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 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

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

28. Fig. 25-11, p. 611 Solutions International Environmental Treaties ProblemsSolutions 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 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

29. 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.