1. Politics, Environment, & Sustainability
Ch. 24

2. The Role of Government in the Transition to More Sustainable Societies
Through its policies, a government can help to protect environmental and public interests, and to encourage more environmentally sustainable economic development.

3. Government Can Serve Environmental and Other Public Interests
Balance between government intervention and free enterprise
NOT EASY!
Government is the best mechanism to deal with
Full-cost pricing
Market failures
The tragedy of the commons
Free enterprise = change and innovations that lead to new tech., products, and opportunities for profit.
Gov acts as a break to business enterprises that might result in harm to people or the environment.
Market failures = level the playing field with subsidies

4. How Can Government Serve Environment and Other Public Interests?
Environmental policy – laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms conserning environmental issues and sustainability
Policies = set of laws and regulations gov. enacts & enforces & programs it funds
Politics = process by which individuals and groups try to influence or control the policies and actions of gov. – local, state, national and international

5. Policy Life Cycle 4 stages Recognition Formulation Implementation
Control
Policies = set of laws and regulations gov. enacts & enforces & programs it funds
Politics = process by which individuals and groups try to influence or control the policies and actions of gov. – local, state, national and international

6. Implementation Implement solutions
Recognition
Identify the problem
Nonpoint-source water pollution
Indoor air pollution
Electronic waste
Mining wastes
Groundwater contamination
Environmentally harmful subsidies
Formulation
Look for solutions
Climate change
Urban sprawl
Nuclear wastes
Biodiversity losses
Toxic wastes
Aquifer depletion
Control
Monitor and adjust
Outdoor air pollution
Sewage treatment problems
Drinking water pollution
Point-source water pollution
Some infectious diseases
Municipal solid waste
Exclusion of environmentally harmful costs from market prices
Implementation Implement solutions
Acid deposition
Ozone depletion
Municipal solid waste
Endangered species
Pest damage
Soil erosion
Stepped Art
Fig. 24-2, p. 639

7. Democracy Quick Solutions
Democracy : Government by the people through elected officials & representatives
United States is a constitutional democracy
Checks and balances allows gradual change that ensures economic and political stability.

8. Democracy Quick Solutions
Special-interest groups pressure the government
Profit-making organizations
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
Politicians focus on problems with short-term effects, not long-term

9. 7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm

10. 7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm
1. The humility principle: Understanding of how our actions affect nature
Low net energy = nuclear, tar sands, shale oil, hydrogen and ethanol from corn. – cannot compete in open market without subsideis

11. 7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm
2. The reversibility principle: Try not to make a decision that cannot be reversed
Hazardous toxic waste
Nuclear waste
Carbon emissions
Low net energy = nuclear, tar sands, shale oil, hydrogen and ethanol from corn. – cannot compete in open market without subsideis

12. 7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm
3. The net energy principle: Do not encourage use of technologies with low net energy yields
Low net energy = nuclear, tar sands, shale oil, hydrogen and ethanol from corn. – cannot compete in open market without subsideis

13. 7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm
4. The precautionary principle: Take measure to prevent/reduce harm
Low net energy = nuclear, tar sands, shale oil, hydrogen and ethanol from corn. – cannot compete in open market without subsideis

14. 7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm
5. The preventive principle: Prevent a problem or prevent making worse

15. 7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm
6. The polluter-pays principle: Regulations & economic tools to ensure that polluters bear the cost of dealing with pollutants/waste (full cost pricing)

16. 7 Principles Designed to Minimize Environmental Harm
7. The environmental justice principle: Environmental policy so that no group of people bears an unfair share of the burden.

17. How Is Environmental Policy Made?
Involves enacting laws, funding programs, writing rules, and enforcing those rules with government oversight

18. Environmental law
Body of laws and treaties that broadly define what is acceptable environmental behavior

19. Developing Environmental Policy Is a Controversial Process
Funding needed
Regulations and rules needed to implement the law
Policy: important role of environmental regulatory agencies
Regulated businesses try to have their members appointed to regulatory agency

20. How Democratic Government Works: The U.S. Model
3 seprate but independent branches.
Laws passed by legislative branch, regulation instituted by agencies of the executive branch and funding approved by congress and the president

21. Environmental organizations Corporations and small businesses
Laws
Legislative branch
Executive branch
Courts
Lobbyists
Lobbyists
Regulators
Public hearing
Civil suits
Figure 24.3: This is a greatly simplified overview of how individuals, corporations, and environmental organizations interact with each other and with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The bottom of this diagram also shows some ways in which individuals can bring about environmental change through their own lifestyles. (See the website for this book for details on contacting elected representatives.)
Environmental organizations
Corporations and small businesses
Membership support
Patronize or boycott
Individuals
Purchase recyclable,
recycled, and environmentally
safe products
Walk, ride a bike, or use a carpool or mass transit
Reuse and recycle
various items
Plant an organic garden
Donate clothes and used goods to charities
Use water,
energy, and other
resources efficiently
Fig. 24-3, p. 642

22. Major Types of Environmental Laws in US
Major Environmental Laws and Amended Versions Enacted in the U.S. Since 1969
Major Types of Environmental Laws in US
Set standards for pollution levels
Screens new substances
Encourages resource conservation
Sets aside or protects certain species, resources, and ecosystems
Requires evaluation of the environmental impact
NO major new environmental laws have been passed since the 1970s!!!!!
Figure 24.4: These are some of the major environmental laws and their amended versions enacted in the United States since No major new environmental laws have been passed since the 1970s.
Fig. 24-4, p. 643

23. Environmental Lawsuits Are Difficult to Win
Legal standing: 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?

24. Environmental Lawsuits Are Difficult to Win
Statutes of limitation
Appeals: years to settle
Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)
Major reforms are needed
SLAPPS = target citizens who publically criticize a business for some activity – 90% thrown out. Not meant to be won – intended to intimedate and slow down. Citizens must hire lawers, spend 1 -3 defending themselves

25. Science VS Politics Science Politics
Any scientific claim must be based on hard evidence and be subject to peer review
Scientists can never establish absolute truth
Scientists vigorously debate the validity of scientific research
Science advances through open sharing and peer review of research methods, results, and conclusions
Politicians are most concerned with getting reelected
Disregard scientific evidence, or pick and choose facts to support a political position
Personal attacks versus discussion of facts
Spread of disinformation in media/online

26. Who opposes U.S. environmental laws?
Some corporate leaders and other powerful people
Some citizens who see threats to private property rights
Some state and local officials who don’t like being forced to implement federal laws and regulations

27. Why the opposition? - Environmental issues not as easy to see now
- Environmentalists as bearers of bad news

28. What Are the Major Roles of Environmental Groups?
Grassroots groups are growing and combining their efforts with those of large environmental organizations in a global sustainability movement.

29. Student Pressure on Campuses to Carry Out Environmental Audits
Gather data on practices that affect the environment
Propose changes

30. Science Focus: Greening American Campuses
Accomplishments of environmental audits by students at American colleges and universities
Specific examples
Oberlin College, OH: nation’s greenest college
Northland College, WI: “green” residence hall
Buying local and organic food
Producing renewable energy

31. Ecofriendly Environmental Living and Learning Center, Northland College, Wisconsin
Figure 24.11: The Environmental Living and Learning Center is an eco-friendly residence hall and meeting space at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. The building, which houses more than 150 students, features a wind turbine and three large solar panels for generating some of the electricity used by the residents. Other green features include passive solar heating, furniture and carpet made from recycled plastic, recycled Mylar window shades that reduce heat loss in winter and prevent excessive solar gain in summer, and a composting toilet system in some of the bathrooms. Northland students had a major role in designing the building, and the space is used by a variety of organizations for meetings and educational programs.
Fig , p. 654