Environmental Laws, Economics, and Ethics Chapter 2 Environmental Laws, Economics, and Ethics

Environmental History of U.S. 1600 1700 1800 1900 Dominated by the frontier attitude

Environmental History of U.S. What is the “Frontier Attitude”? A desire to conquer and exploit nature as quickly as possible At this rate, an area the size of Europe could be deforested in 40yrs!

Environmental History of U.S. 1750 1800 1900 John James Audubon Henry David Thoreau George Perkins Marsh Period: 19th Century Some conservationists were influential in raising environmental concerns later in this period.

George Perkins Marsh Influenced Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot (first head of the U.S. Forest Service). Utilitarian Conservation They values natural resources because of their usefulness for practical purposes but uses them sensibly

Environmental History of U.S. 1st National Park: Yellowstone 1850 Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks 1900 1950 General Revision Act Several presidents, particularly Theodore Roosevelt, used this Act to establish 43 million acres of forest reserves. General Revision Act (1891) Gave the president the authority to establish forest reserves on public (federally owned) land.

Environmental History of U.S. 1850 1900 1950 Different worldviews Theodore Roosevelt - utilitarian John Muir - preservationist

Worldviews Utilitarian Conservationist Biocentric Preservationist A person who values natural resources because of there usefulness for practical purposes but uses them sensibly Biocentric Preservationist A person who believes in protecting nature because all forms of life deserve respect and consideration

Environmental History of U.S. Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac published posthumously Franklin Roosevelt establishes CCC and SCS 1900 1950 2000 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Established by president Franklin Roosevelt employed more than 175,000 men to plant trees, make paths and roads in national parks and forest, build dams to control flooding and perform other activities to protect natural resource. He also formed the Soil Conservation Service (SCS)

Environmental History of U.S. Rachel Carson published Silent Spring 1900 1950 2000

Silent Springs Heightened public awareness and concern about the dangers of uncontrolled uses of DDT and other pesticides. Led to restrictions on use of certain pesticides. Rachel Carson

Environmental History of U.S. 1900 Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb Wilderness Act of 1964, spurred on by Wallace Stegner 1950 First Earth Day (1970) 2000 Earth Day 1970 Organized by Denis Hayes.20 Mil people in the US planted trees, cleaned roads and riverbanks, marched in parades. Awakened US environmental consciousness to pop. Growth, pollution, etc

Environmental History of U.S.

U.S. Environmental Legislation National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) – Stated that federal government must consider the environmental impact of a proposed federal action.

U.S. Environmental Legislation National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) – dictates ALL federally proposed actions draft an environmental impact statement (EIS). Council on Environmental Quality – Established by the NEPA to monitor the required EIS and report directly to the president

EISs : Were they effective? Complains were made that They were sometimes incomplete or are ignored when decisions are made. Delay important projects because they were too involved and took too long to prepare

U.S. Environmental Legislation Addressing New Environmental Problems with Government Policies Problem identified US congressperson drafts legislation Legislation passed, signed by president Full-cost accounting evaluation EPA develops regulations Office of Management and budget (OMB) Public comments Regulations implemented / enforced by states (usually) OMB reviews / approves funding

U.S. Environmental Legislation Many environmental laws have been passed: Clean Air Act (1970) (Amended in 1990) Clean Water Act (1972) Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) Endangered Species Act (1973) Energy Policy and Conservation Act (1975) Federal Land Policy and Management Act (1976) National Forest Management Act (1976) Toxic Substances Control Act (1976) Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act (1977) Medical Waste Tracking Act Food Quality Protection Act (1996) Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (2002)

U.S. Environmental Legislation What has been their effect since 1970? 8 National Parks, National Wilderness Preservation System Substantial soil erosion reduction Many endangered species fairing better Emissions of many pollutants reduced

Economics and the Environment The study of how people use their limited resources to try to satisfy their unlimited wants. - An economist view the world as one large market place where resources are allocated for various uses and where goods and services are consumed and paid for.

Economics and the Environment Economy Production Consumption Products Money Source Raw Materials Sinks Waste Starts with a Source, ends with a Sink

Economics and the Environment National Income Accounts The total income of a nation for a given year Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Net Domestic Product (NDP) NDP = GDP - depreciation / capital expenses BUT, consuming nonrenewable natural resources typically NOT accounted

Economics and the Environment National Income Accounts Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Net Domestic Product (NDP) NDP = GDP - depreciation / capital expenses In addition, degradation of natural resources by pollution also typically NOT accounted External costs rarely considered

Economics and the Environment Marginal cost of pollution The additional cost associated with one more unit of pollution Economist makes use of scientific tools such as graphs

Economics and the Environment Marginal cost of pollution abatement The added cost for all present and future members of society of an additional unit of pollution

Economics and the Environment Cost-Benefit Analysis Used by economist to identify the point at which the marginal cost of pollution equals the marginal cost of abatement (intersection)

Economics and the Environment Cost-Benefit Analysis

Economics and the Environment Common problems with economic analyses: 1) Reduction in quality of life and natural beauty difficult to assess. 2) Fails to consider unexpected catastrophic environmental damage.

Economics and the Environment Economic strategies for pollution control: Command and control regulations Pollution-control laws that work by setting limits on levels of pollution 2) Incentive-based regulation Pollution-control laws that work by establishing emission targets and providing industries with incentives to reduce emissions

Economics and the Environment Case-in-Point: Environmental Problems in Central and Eastern Europe Water was poisoned by raw sewage and chemicals, unidentified chemicals leaked into out of dumpsters into soil and ground water, power plants emitted soot and sulfur dioxide, building eroded, entire forests died, crop yields dropped.

Environmental Ethics, Values, and Worldviews Branch of philosophy that is derived through the logical application of human values Values The principles that an individual or society considers important or worthwhile Worldview Commonly shared perspectives based on a collection of our basic values that help us to make sense of the world, understand our place and purpose in it and determine right and wrong behavior.

Environmental Ethics, Values, and Worldviews Environmental worldview Helps us make sense of how the environment works, and right and wrong environmental behavior Western worldview An understanding of our place in the world based on human superiority and dominance over nature, the unrestricted use of natural resources and economic growth to manage an expanding industrial base Deep ecological worldview An understanding of our place in the world based on harmony with nature, a spiritual respect for life, and the belief that human and all other species have equal worth

Environmental Ethics, Values, and Worldviews List your moral values concerning the stewardship of natural resources. Where would you place yourself along this spectrum of worldviews? Deep Ecology Western