Chapter 21: Economics, Policy and the Future

P532-548

Key Terms:

• Sustainability• Economics• Environmental Impact Statement• Lobbying

Objectives

1. Describe some of the challenges to achieving sustainability

2. Describe several major international meetings and agreements relating to the environment

3. Explain how economics and environmental science are related

4. Compare two ways that governments influence economics

5. Give an example of private effort to address environmental problems

Economics and International Cooperation

• More than 6 billion people living on earth• Today we have longer life expectancies • Many disagree how humans are impacting the earth

today? And how we should fix them?• Will we run out of resources ?• Is the present human condition sustainable?• (the condition in which human needs are met in such

a way that human populations can survive indefinitely)• Economics and politics and ES all work together

International Development and Cooperation

• Globalization- environmental and social conditions are linked across political borders worldwide.

• People cross boarder to find better way of life• We need world wide efforts• Debate who is responsible – want a common

goal

Sustainable Development

• The World Conservation Union (IUCN), 1948• Un Conference on Human Environments,

Stockholm, 1972• UN Conference on Environment and

Development (UNCED or Earth Summit) 1992• World Summit on Sustainable Development

2002

Climate and Atmosphere

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1988

• Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992

• Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987 http://ozone.unep.org/Publications/MP_Handbook/

• Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change 1997 (US did not sign) (cost out weighed the benefit)

Other Agreements1. Antarctic Treaty and Convention 19592. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution

from ships (MARPOL) 1973, 19783. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

(CITES)19734. Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) 19795. Law of the Sea 19826. Basel Convention 19897. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 19928. Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) 19949. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 200010. UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) 2001

Economics and the Environment

• Economics- study of the choices people make as they use and distribute limited resources

• Markets- money and products flow in cycles• Economic growth- when you have an increase

in that flow• Economics can draw resources from the

environment and return waste or cause damage to ecosystem (Market Failures)

• Ocean are free- Whaling (Whale Wars)

Regulation and Economic Incentives

• Fines and jail time• Economic incentives (tax cuts for energy

efficient products)

Private Efforts

• Donate land for parks, money to causes• Conducting research/ environmental

management• Nature Conservancy- nonprofit organization

to help preserve ecosystems

21.2 Environmental Policies in the US

• Describe 2 major developments in US environmental history

• Give examples of 3 federal agencies that have environmental responsibilities

• Explain the purpose of Environmental Impact Statements• Give an example of how citizens can affect environmental

policy at each level of government- local, state, and national

• Evaluate the media as a source of information about the environment

History of US Environmental Policy

• 1800’s – Hunters and Gathers; turn prairies into croplands; cut down forest; hunt animals to extinction

• 1900’s Roosevelt and Muir- increased protection and management of nation’s resources- national parks and forests established

Environmental Agencies and Laws

• 1930’s- poor farming- soil erosion and crop disasters leads to poverty

• Better waste disposal• Fist earth day celebrated around the world

1970 and EPA was also created

US Federal Agencies and Environmental Responsibilities

• Environmental Protection Agency• Department of Interior• US Fish and Wildlife Service• Bureau of Land Management• National Parks Service• Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement• Department of Agriculture• Department of Commerce• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration• National Marine Fisheries Service• Nuclear Regulatory Commission• Department of Energy

Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)

• Government agencies are required to file for any proposed project or policy that would have a significant effect on the environment (dams, highways, airports)

• State the impact on environment and if any negative impact can be minimized- the public can attempt to speak against

Unfunded Mandated and Economic Impacts

• 1995, Congress passed a low to prevent unfunded mandates, which are federal regulations that do not provide funds for state or local governments to implement the regulations

• Government must provide funding for any new law that would cost more that 50 million to implement

• Can no longer pass laws that require local communities to conduct their own tests

Influencing Environmental Policy

• Local governments- citizens, City councils• State Governments• Lobbying- organized attempt to influence the

decision of lawmakers (political donations)• Media and Source on Information (not always

accurate)

21.3 The importance of the individual

• Give examples of individuals who have influenced environmental history

• Identify ways in which the choices that you make as an individual may affect the environment

Influential Individuals

• Thoreau-(1817-1862)- Walden Pond• Muir (1838- 1914) Sierra Club• Roosevelt (1858- 1919) first president to

support conservation, funded forest service expanded national forests 400% and first National Monuments

• Hamilton (1869-1970) disease by working with chemicals (lead and gasoline)

• Carson (1907- 1964) Silent Springs, pesticides

Continued:

• Ehrlich- Population Bomb• Goodall (1934-) Chimpanzees• Cousteau (1910- 1997) undersea explorations• Hardin (1915-2003) The Tragedy of the

Commons

Applying Your Knowledge

• Voting• Weighing the Evidence• Consumer Choices (Reduce, reuse, Recycle)