Chapter 24: Politics, Environment, and Sustainability

24.1 How Can Government Help With The Transition To More Sustainable Societies?

Government Can Serve Environmental and Other Public Interests

There needs to be a balance between government intervention and free enterprise
Government is the best mechanism to deal with * Full-cost pricing * Market failures * The Tragedy of the Commons: Depletion or degradation of a potentially renewable resource to which people have free and unmanaged access
Policies: Set of laws and regulations
Environmental policy
Policy life cycle – four stages * Recognition * Formulation * Implementation * Control

Democracy Does Not Always Allow for Quick Solutions

United States is a constitutional democracy
Three branches of government * Legislative * Executive * Judicial
Special-interest groups pressure the government * Profit-making organizations * Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
Politicians focus on problems with short-term effects

Certain Principles Can Guide Us in Making Environmental Policy

The humility principle: How our actions affect nature
The reversibility principle: Avoid decisions that cannot be reversed
The net energy principle: Avoid low net energy yields
The precautionary principle: Take precautionary measures
The prevention principle: Help prevent problems from occurring
The polluter-pays principle: Taxes, etc.
The environmental justice principle: No person should bear an unfair burden

24.2 How Is Environmental Policy Made?

How Democratic Government Works: The U.S. Model

Three branches * Legislative branch * Executive branch * Judicial branch
Develop and implement policy * Laws, regulations, and funding * Lobbying

Developing Environmental Policy Is a Controversial Process

Funding needed
Regulations and rules needed to implement the law
Environmental regulatory agencies play an important role * Regulated businesses try to have their members appointed to regulatory agency

Individuals Can Influence Environmental Policy

Individuals matteR
2007 – Chinese citizens opposed the construction of a chemical plant * Mobile phone text messaging spread the word
At a fundamental level, all politics is local

Influencing Environmental Policy

Become informed on issues
Make your views known at public hearings
Make your views known to elected representatives and understand their positions on environmental issues
Contribute money and time to candidates who support your views
Votes
Run for office
Form or join non-government organizations (NGOs) seeking change
Support reform of election campaign financing that reduces undue influence by corporations and wealthy individuals.

Environmental Leaders Can Make a Big Difference

Lead by example
Work within existing economic and political systems
Run for local office
Propose and work for better solutions to environmental problems

24.3 How Can Environmental Law Help In Dealing with Environmental Problems?

Environmental Law Forms the Basis for Environmental Policy

Environmental law: Body of laws and treaties that broadly define what is acceptable environmental behavior
Most environmental lawsuits are civil suits * Injunction: court hearing * Class action suit: civil suit filed by a group * Negligence: damage caused by deliberately acting unreasonably

Environmental Lawsuits Are Difficult to Win

Legal standing
Very expensive
Public interest law firms * Cannot recover attorney’s fees
Plaintiffs must establish that harm has been done
Statutes of limitation: Limit the length of time a plaintiff can sue
Appeals: years to settle
Strategic lawsuits against public Participation (SLAPPs)

U.S. Environmental Laws

Types of Legislation * Set standards for pollution levels * Screen new substances for safety * Encourage resource conservation * Protect spaces and ecosystems * Require evaluation of activity proposed by the federal agency * Environmental impact statement
Have been highly effective * Especially in pollution control
Since 1980, well-organized forces against existing environmental laws
Environmentalists primarily bring bad news to the public

24.4 What Are the Major Roles of Environmental Groups?

Citizen Environmental Groups Play Important Roles

Nonprofit nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working at all levels * International, national, state, and local
Small grassroots groups to worldwide organizations
Global public policy networks * Focus on particular environmental problems
Shifting resources to publicizing innovation

The Natural Resources Defense Council

NRDC: Goes to court to stop environmentally harmful practices * Informs and organizes millions of environmental activists to take action to protect the environment * Website, magazines, and newspapers
BioGems Network: Informs subscribers of environmental threats
2005: blocked the EPA from finalizing a “blending” proposal for untreated sewage
2001: protect a vast area of Great Bear Rainforest from logging

Grassroots Environmental Groups Bring About Change from the Bottom Up

Global sustainability movement * Citizen-based
Conservation land trusts * Property owners agree to protect the land from development and harmful activities
Nonviolent, nondestructive tactics

The Environmental Transformation of Chattanooga, TN

In the 1960s – one of the dirtiest cities in the U.S.
1984 – Vision 2000 process * Build consensus on what the city should be
The city: * Encouraged zero-emission industries * Renovated low-income housing * Launched an innovative recycling program

Students and Educational Institutions Can Play Important Environmental Roles

Student pressure on campuses to carry out environmental audits * Gather data on practices that affect the environment * Propose changes * What are some examples of student groups and what they can accomplish?

24.5 How Can We Improve Global Environmental Security?

Why Is Global Environmental Security Important?

Countries are legitimately concerned with national security and economic security
All economies supported by natural capital
Failing states – rooted in ecological crisis * Darfur, Sudan, Africa

We Can Develop Stronger International Environmental Policies

United Nations – most influential * Family of global policy-making organizations
Other influential groups * The World Bank, etc.
U.N. Conference of Environment and Development – Agenda 21 * Rio+20 Earth Summit Conference in 2012

Corporations Can Play a Key Role in Environmental Sustainability

Corporations have the profits to provide funding
Eco-efficiency: Finding ways to create economic value with less harmful impacts
Nature Conservancy program: Help companies include the monetary value of natural capital in goals and strategies

24.6 How Can We Implement More Just Environmental Policies?

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
Making this shift involveS * Economic, political, and ethical decisions

Three Big Ideas

An important outcome of the political process is environmental policy * The body of laws, regulations, and programs that are designed, implemented, funded, and enforced by one or more government agencies
All politics is local * Individuals can work with each other to become part of political processes that influence environmental policies
Environmental security is necessary for economic security and is at least as important as national security * Making the transition to more environmentally sustainable societies will require that nations cooperate just as they do for national security purposes

Tying It All Together: Greening College Campuses and Sustainability

It is possible to create sustainable environmental policies
National and international policymakers should: * Try for win-win solutions * Make each decision with future generations in mind