role of govt in environment
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Role of Govt. in environmental protection
24-1 The Role of Government in the Transition to More Sustainable
Societies • Concept 24-1 A government can help to
protect environmental and public interests and help to encourage more environmentally sustainable economic development through its policies.
Government Can Serve Environmental and Other Public Interests (1)
• Balance between government intervention and free enterprise
• Is the government the best mechanism to deal with
– Full-cost pricing
– Market failures
– The tragedy of the commons
Government Can Serve Environmental and Other Public Interests (2)
• Policies and politics
• Environmental policy
• Policy life cycle: 4 stages– Recognition
– Formulation
– Implementation
– Control
Fig. 24-2, p. 636
Recognition Identify the problem
Nonpoint-source water pollutionIndoor air pollution
Electronic waste
Mining wastes
Groundwater contamination
Environmentally harmful subsidiesExclusion of environmentally harmful costs from market prices
Control Monitor and adjust
Outdoor air pollution
Sewage treatment problems
Drinking water pollutionPoint-source water pollution
Some infectious diseases
Municipal solid waste
Stepped Art
Implementation Implement solutions
Acid deposition
Ozone depletion
Municipal solid waste
Endangered species
Pest damage
Soil erosion
Formulation Look for solutions
Global warming
Urban sprawl
Nuclear wastes
Biodiversity losses
Toxic wastes
Aquifer depletion
Democracy Does Not Always Allow for Quick Solutions (1)
• Democracy
• Framework
– Constitutional democracy
– Three branches of government
• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial
Democracy Does Not Always Allow for Quick Solutions (2)
• Special-interest groups pressure the government
– Profit-making organizations
– Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
• Politicians focus on problems with short-term effects, not long-term
Certain Principles Can Guide Us in Making Environmental Policy (1)
• The humility principle
• The reversibility principle
• The precautionary principle
• The net energy principle
• The preventive principle
Certain Principles Can Guide Us in Making Environmental Policy (2)
• The polluter-pays principle
• The public access and participation principle
• The human rights principle
• The environmental justice principle
• How will these principles be implemented?
24-2 How Is Environmental Policy Made? (1)
• Concept 24-2A Policy making involves law making, program funding, rule writing, and enforcement of rules by agencies—a complex process that is affected at each stage by political processes.
24-2 How Is Environmental Policy Made? (2)
• Concept 24-2B Individuals can work with each other to become part of political processes that influence how environmental policies are made and whether or not they succeed. (Individuals matter.)
How Democratic Government Works: The U.S. Model
• Three branches
– Legislative branch
– Executive branch
– Judicial branch
• Develop and implement policy
– Laws, regulation, and funding
– Lobbying
Fig. 24-3, p. 639
Laws
Legislative branch Executive branch Courts
Lobbyists Lobbyists RegulatorsPublic
hearing
Civil suits
Environmental
organizationsCorporations and
small businesses
Membership
support
Patronize or
boycott
Individuals
Purchase recyclable,
recycled, and
environmentally safe
products
Recycle cans,
bottles, paper,
and plastic
Plant a
garden
Donate clothes
and used goods
to charities
Use water, energy,
and other resources
efficiently
Use mass transit,
walk, ride a bike,
or carpool
What Can You Do? Influencing Environmental Policy
Environmental Leaders Can Make a Big Difference
• Lead by example
• Campaign and vote for informed and eco-friendly candidates
• Run for local office
• Propose and work for better solutions to environmental problems
24-3 What Is the Role of Environmental Law in Dealing with Environmental
Problems? • Concept 24-3 Environmental laws and
regulations can be used to control pollution, set safety standards, encourage resource conservation, and protect species and ecosystems.
Fig. 24-9, p. 654
TRADE-OFFS
Global Efforts to Solve
Environmental Problems
Good News Bad NewsEnvironmental protection agencies
in 115 nations
Most international environmental
treaties lack criteria for evaluating
their effectivenessOver 500 international
environmental treaties and
agreements1992 Rio Earth Summit led to
nonbinding agreements with
inadequate fundingUN Environment Programme (UNEP)
created in 1972 to negotiate and
monitor international environmental
treatiesBy 2008 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 deal with global
environmental problems such as
climate change, biodiversity loss,
and poverty
2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit
attempted to implement 1992 Rio
summit policies and goals and
reduce poverty
Fig. 24-10, p. 655
SOLUTIONS
International Environmental Treaties
Problems Solutions
Take a long time to
develop and are
weakened by requiring
full consensus
Do not require full
consensus among
regulating parties
Poorly monitored
and enforced
Establish procedures
for monitoring and
enforcement
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
Corporations Can Play a Key Role in Moving Toward Environmental
Sustainability• Eco-efficiency
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development
24-6 Implementing More Sustainable and Just Environmental Policies
• Concept 24-6 Making the transition to more sustainable societies will require that nations implement green plans and that people and nations cooperate, agree on principles, and make the political commitment to achieve this transition.
Green Planning Can Be a National Priority
• The Netherlands focused on four themes– Implement life-cycle management
– Improve energy efficiency
– Invent more environmentally sustainable technologies
– Public education
• Is the plan in the Netherlands working?
• EPI rank for the Netherlands is 55/149 countries
We Can Shift to More Environmentally Sustainable Societies
• Emphasize preventing or minimizing environmental problems
• Use market-place solutions
• Win-win solutions or trade-offs to environmental problems or injustices
• Be honest and objective
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