Politics, Environment, and SustainabilityPolitics, Environment, and Sustainability

G. Tyler Miller’sG. Tyler Miller’s

Living in the Living in the EnvironmentEnvironment

1414thth Edition Edition

Chapter 27Chapter 27

Shohail ChoudhuryShohail Choudhury

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Democracies and environmental problemsDemocracies and environmental problems

Making environmental policyMaking environmental policy

Environmental and anti-environmental groupsEnvironmental and anti-environmental groups

Global environmental policiesGlobal environmental policies

Politics and Environmental PolicyPolitics and Environmental Policy

Constitutional democracyConstitutional democracy

Branches of government with check and balancesBranches of government with check and balances

electionselections

Special interest groupsSpecial interest groups

Profit-making organizationsProfit-making organizations

Nonprofit, nongovernment organizationsNonprofit, nongovernment organizations

Factors Hindering Democracies in Dealing with Factors Hindering Democracies in Dealing with Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems

Reactive to problems instead of proactiveReactive to problems instead of proactive

Short time between elections shift focus to short-Short time between elections shift focus to short-term issuesterm issues

Major affected groups do not vote; no obligation Major affected groups do not vote; no obligation on the part of politicianson the part of politicians

Elected officials spend much time raising money to Elected officials spend much time raising money to be reelectedbe reelected

Developing and Influencing Environmental Policy: Developing and Influencing Environmental Policy: PrinciplesPrinciples

Humility Principle: Humility Principle: our knowledge is limited.our knowledge is limited.

Reversibility Principle: Reversibility Principle: irreversible on a human life scaleirreversible on a human life scale

Precautionary Principle: Precautionary Principle: better safe than sorrybetter safe than sorry

Prevention PrinciplePrevention Principle

Integrative Principle: Integrative Principle: environment and other problems.environment and other problems.

The Polluter Pays Principle: The Polluter Pays Principle: full-cost pricingfull-cost pricing

Environmental Justice Principle: Environmental Justice Principle: No group are deprived ofNo group are deprived of

Case Study: Environmental Policy in the United Case Study: Environmental Policy in the United StatesStates

Purchase recyclable,recycled, and

environmentallysafe products

Recycle cans,bottles,paper,

and plastic

Plant a garden

Individual

Donate clothesand used

goods to charities

Use water,energy,

and otherresources efficiently

Use mass transit,walk, ride a

bike, or carpool

Laws and regulationsMembership support

Lawyers LawyersCourts

Boycotts

Environmentalorganizations

Legal action Legal action

Laws andregulations

Corporationsand smallbusiness

Specialinterestgroups

Lobbyists Lobbyists

Lawmaking body

Publicadvisory

Publichearing

Regulatingenforcement

body

Environmental LawEnvironmental Law

Statutory lawStatutory law

Civil suitCivil suit

Common lawCommon law

Class action suitClass action suit

Nuisance Nuisance Statute of LimitationsStatute of Limitations

Negligence Negligence Mediation Mediation

SLAPPs SLAPPs

Administrative lawAdministrative law

InjunctionInjunction

Environmental Groups and ClaimsEnvironmental Groups and Claims

Mainstream groupsMainstream groups

Grassroots groupsGrassroots groups

Specific issue focusSpecific issue focus

Raise understanding or awareness of issuesRaise understanding or awareness of issues

Many groups but not much cohesivenessMany groups but not much cohesiveness

Anti-Environmental Groups and ClaimsAnti-Environmental Groups and Claims

Threatened by environmental regulationsThreatened by environmental regulations

Threats to private rights or propertyThreats to private rights or property

Spend much time attempting to discredit Spend much time attempting to discredit legitimate groupslegitimate groups

Often use “environmentally-friendly” sounding Often use “environmentally-friendly” sounding names names (People for the west)(People for the west)

Raise questions and doubt in the minds of citizensRaise questions and doubt in the minds of citizens

Global Environmental PolicyGlobal Environmental Policy

Military security, economic securityMilitary security, economic security

Environmental securityEnvironmental security

International MeetingsInternational Meetings

Effects of GATT and the WTOEffects of GATT and the WTO