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Chapter 20 Many changes - trade, communication, technology, information as a resource. - During the past 20 years, the amount of energy and natural resources.

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Presentation on theme: "Chapter 20 Many changes - trade, communication, technology, information as a resource. - During the past 20 years, the amount of energy and natural resources."— Presentation transcript:

1 Chapter 20 Many changes - trade, communication, technology, information as a resource. - During the past 20 years, the amount of energy and natural resources used in the U.S. to produce each constant dollar of output has declined, as has many forms of pollution. Learning From the Past pollution is waste, waste is inefficient, inefficiency is expensive. Do not think about jobs, energy, transportation, housing, and the environment as being unconnected... they are all tied together. Past pattern of environmental protection is crisis management... this needs to change.

2 Chapter 20 Thinking About the Future Avoided Costs – eliminate short term thinking, environmental debt. Problem avoidance costs less than fixing problems. Good enviro work benefits future more than present Sustainable future for future generations Changing Environmental Paradigm From Clean up and Control to assessment, anticipation and avoidance Future: role of individuals in environmental protection –Non-point source, ozone depletion, global warming etc Education, local involvement, informed public Defining the future – concerted effort of education, awareness, science, policy, and economics

3 Chapter 20 The National Environmental Policy Act - 1969 NEPA policy “ promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and to stimulate the health and welfare of man”. Set up to institutionalize a concern for the environment within all Federal agencies. NEPA also created the CEQ (council for environmental quality) which serves as an advisory council to the president and can issue binding regulations Criticisms of Environmental Regulation –Unrealistic nature of regulations –Failure to use market incentives –Inadequate assignment of responsibility for pollution –Disproportionate harm to small businesses –Technology-based rather than performance-based standards –Business vs Environment mentality

4 Chapter 20 1970s –Legislature passed many important environmental laws that have formed base of modern laws NEPA 1969 Safe Water Drinking Act 1974 Clean Water Act 1977 Others see page 445 The oil crisis in 1974 caused rapid abandonment of environmental concerns and this continued in the 1980s under Reagan—still some progress 1988—environmental records of major candidates were first entered into the debate and remain a major campaign issue today.

5 Chapter 20 Environmental Backlash Wise Use Movement-- late 1980s –Funded by timber, oil, coal industry, real estate developers, and ranchers. –Some goals Eliminate NPS; replace with private operators Remove restrictions on wetlands Open all parkland/wilderness areas/wildlife areas to 4x4s, commercial development, mining and drilling Cut remaining old growth timber in National Forests and replace with plantation style forests Recognize private property rights to water, grazing and mining on public lands –Frequently cite 5th amendment Their efforts will not be framed as such in media/politics, YOU have to know about the issues, be able to read b/w the lines and of course, FOLLOW THE MONEY!

6 Chapter 20 The Greening of World Politics The Earth Summit in Rio - 1997 –180 governments came together to discuss environmental concerns. Eco conflicts - South versus North – Developing nations are not likely to slow down resource usage. Toxic terrorism – dumping of toxic waste from richer countries in poorer countries. May end up with tensions similar to the cold war. Eco Terrorism Hussein’s use of oil as a weapon – dumped 1.1 billion liters of oil in the Persian Gulf.... may have been to stop an amphibious invasion or to shut down water processing plants in Saudi Arabia. Burning of wells in Kuwait... massive air pollution.


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