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