Environmental Decision Making

Economics

study of production & consumption of scare resources & way they affect behavior; driven by supply & demand

Suppl & demand

supply: amount of resource available; demand: # of people that r willing 2 buy or use that resource

Relationship between supply, demand, & resource pricing

Supply & demand is low = price of resource is low; demand incr & supply decr price goes higher

Economics comes into play in every…

environ. decision

What is a cost-benefit analysis?

decision makers need 2 think bout cost of resource & whether its worth what’s gained

The value applied to a portion of the environment is based on…

ecosystem services 4 that area

1st type of ecosystem service

Provisioning: goods humans get directly from eco; ex: Marine humans eat its animals

2nd type of ecosystem service

cultural: non material benefits people obtain from eco; ex: rivers give recreational opportunities 4 water sports; hiking

3rd type of ecosystem service

regulating: ability of eco 2 regulate air, soil, or water quality provide flood or disease control; ex: wetlands improve water quality & holding water 2 provide flood control

4th type of ecosystem service

supporting: povides necessities 4 eco 2 funct; ex: forest give organic matter 4 decomposers & provide wind breaks

All ecosystem services must be evaluated as part of…

cost-ben analysis when eco will b disrupted

As the US & global population grew

resources began 2 deplete

Without government policies in place…

individ self interest may create irreparable damage 2 envir. (tragedy of Commons)

Environmental policies

rules in place 2 regulate effects of human activities on envir

Environmental policies can be made on…

local, state, natl, or global levels

Environmental policies fit in2 2 categories

Regulations: focus on threat of punishment if rules r not followed, ex: Clean water act; incentives: encouragement of environ friendly activity through subsides (payments by gov or tax breaks, ex: solar panels=tax cred

What is a drawback to using regulatory policies?

work well @ 1st but expensive 2 enforce + not best way 2 manage industry

Cap & trade

policies r combo of both regulat. & incent; reg: total amount of pollutants limited; incent: pollutin companies buy permits that can b sold & traded 2 other companies if limit not reached, ex: Greenhouse gas emissions

Energy Policy Act

Reduces US dependence on petroleum & funds alternative fuels

Sage Drinking Water Act

Sets standards for drinking water contaminants

Wlilderness Act

Protects large areas of land for recreation, education, or research

NEPA

Requires environmental impact statements for federal developmental projects

  CITES

Restricts wildlife trading

CERCLA

Investigation & clean up of hazardous waste sites

 Montreal Protocol

Voluntary international agreement to reduce ozone-depleting substances