environmental policy (definitions)

policy

a formal set of general plans and principles to address problems and guide decisions (general guidelines to how something is addressed)

public policy

policy made by governments that consists of laws, regulations, orders, incentives, and practices

environmental policy

pertains to human interactions with the environment (regulates resource use or reduce pollution)

the tragedy of the commons

the idea that a resource held in common that is accessible to all and is unregulated will eventually become overused and degraded

free riders

reducing pollution tempts any one person to cheat

externalities

harmful impacts result from market transaction but are borne by people not involved in the transaction

how environmental policy has changed: 1780s-1800s

frontier ethic to tame and conquer the wilderness (age of colonization as well)

how environmental policy has changed: 1800s

regulate resource use, conservation, and preservation ethics

how environmental policy has changed: 1900s

immigrants encouraged to convert Prairie grasslands into farms; soil conservation

how environmental policy has changed: late 1900s

policy responded to pollution and environmental crises (silent springs, 1962)

how environmental policy has changed: 2000s

public enthusiasm for environmental protection

riparian law

anyone who has legal access to the waters edge has the legal right to withdraw water from the resource

prior appropriation

first come, first right principle, by which ones right to withdraw water is established by historical precedent

acts

laws, statutes, proposed and voted upon by the Parliament (ex. CEPA)

regulations

specific legal instruments, a detailed set of requirements established by governments to allow them to enforce acts

agreements

enforceable or voluntary; with the goal of streamlining, clarifying, or harmonizing the administration of environmental legislation (contracts)

permits

a document that grant legal permission to carry out an activity

laws → bills → act → permits

voluntary guidelines

sector-based and self-enforced policing (not necessarily mandatory, but should be followed)

stakeholder

any person or group that has an interest in, or might be affected by, the outcome of a particular undertaking

ENGOs

environmental nongovernmental organizations

round table

a multi-stakeholder working group established to consult on a particular issue

state-of-the-environment reporting (SOER)

the collection, organization, and reporting of information that can be used to measure and monitor changes in the environment

indicators

values that can be measured and in comparison to which changes can be assessed

pressure-state-response (PSR) model

based on establishing linkages and casualities

organizations that shape international environmental policy: The United Nations

helps nations understand and solve environmental problems

organizations that shape international environmental policy: The World Trade Organization

has authority to impose financial penalties and can shape environmental policy

organizations that shape international environmental policy: The World Bank

funds economic development including some unsustainable projects

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

concerned that some countries may impose policies that are harmful to those who rely on fossil fuels for a substantial part of their income (they control a lot)

International ENGOs

provide funding, expertise, and research to environmental problems in diverse ways (World Wildlife Fund)

Command-and-control approach

environmental policy sets rules or limits and threatens punishment for violators (follow or get fucked)

Subsidy

a government giveaway of cash or resources to encourage a particular activity

green taxes

taxes on environmentally harmful activities

polluter pays principle

the price of a good or service includes all costs, including environmental degredation

permit trading

government-created market in permits (businesses buy, sell, trade these permits)

emissions trading system

government-issued permits for an acceptable amount of pollution and companies buy, sell, or trade these permits with other polluters

cap-and-trade system

a party that reduces its pollution levels can sell this credit to other parties

ecolablling

tells consumers which brands use environmentally benign processes