Environmental Policy

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Environmental Policy
Policy A rule or guideline that directs
individual, organizational, or societal
behavior Addresses issues of equity and resource
use Can you think of an example of each? Why
might people NOT want environmental policy?
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U.S. Environmental Policy
What are the three branch of the US Government
and what does each do? What is Executive
Orders Specific legal instructions for government
agencies Case Law The body of law created by
decisions rendered by the courts.
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U.S. Environmental Policy
Precedents Previous rulings that serve as legal
guides for later cases Lawsuits Requests for
legal action Administrative Agencies Agencies
within the executive branch responsible for
enforcement and elaboration Regulations Specific
rules based upon laws
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U.S. Environmental Policy
14th Amendment to the constitution Prohibits
states from denying equal protection of their
laws to any person. Provides the basis for the
environmental justice movement 5th Amendment to
the constitution Private property shall not be
taken for public use without just
compensation Takings Clauses Regulatory taking
occurs when the government deprives the owner of
most or all economic uses of that property
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1st U.S. Environmental Laws
1785 and 1787 General Land Ordinances gave the
federal government the right to manage western
lands 1862 Homestead Act Allowed citizend to
claim western lands 1866 Mineral Lands Act
provided free land for mining and
settlement 1873 Timber Culture Act granted land
to citizens willing to cultivate trees
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2nd Round U.S. Environmental Laws
Late 1800s addressed problems created by the
first round Examples Designation of Yellowstone
national Park 1891 Forest Reserves
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3rd Round U.S. Environmental Laws
Addressed pollution in the mid to late 20th
century Spurred by several things Book Silent
Spring by Rachel Carson problems with DDT and
other pesticides and chemicals River in
Cleveland Ohio caught fire more than a half dozen
times Celebration of Earth Day
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3rd Round U.S. Environmental Laws
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Created
the Council on Environmental Quality which
required environmental impact statements (EIS) be
prepared for any major federal actions All
government agencies and contractors must prepare
and EIS before building a new dam, building or
highway
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3rd Round U.S. Environmental Laws
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Conducts
and evaluates research, monitors environmental
quality, sets standards for minimal pollution
levels, enforces standards, assists states in
meeting standards and goals, and educating the
public Federal Water Pollution Control Act and
Clean Water Act began brought federal control to
discharges into the waterways.
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Approaches to Environmental Policy
Command-and-Control Sets strict legal limits and
imposes punishment for violators Green
Taxes Charges on environmentally harmful
activities Marketable Emissions Permits Permits
that can be bought, sold, and traded by polluters
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Approaches to Environmental Policy
Subsidy A government giveaway of cash or publicly
owned resources, or a tax break, that is intended
to encourage a certain activity Can you name
some subsidies that are harmful to the
environment? Helpful to the environment?
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Steps in Policy Making
Identify the problem Identify the specific
causes of the problem Envision a
solution Getting organized Gaining Access to
the political power brokers Shepherding a
solution from concept to law
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How does lobbying work? Is it a good or a bad
thing? What do we mean by the revolving door?
Is it a good or a bad thing
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How can you get involved in the political process?
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Policy Cycle
Agenda Setting perceiving and defining the
problem Policy Formulation developing goals
examining strategies for action to meet
goals Policy Implementation justifying policy
action by mobilizing support formally enacting
policy Policy Implementation administering
policy putting programs into effect Policy
Evaluation assessing successes or failures of
policy and programs Policy Change revising
goals and/or means as necessary
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International Law
Convention Law Arises from conventions or
international treaties Customary
Law International law that arises from
long-standing practices, or customs, held in
common by most cultures.
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International Law
Convention Law Arises from conventions or
international treaties Customary
Law International law that arises from
long-standing practices, or customs, held in
common by most cultures.
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International Law
Convention Law Arises from conventions or
international treaties Customary
Law International law that arises from
long-standing practices, or customs, held in
common by most cultures.
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Principles underlying Customary Law
Good Neighborliness No nation should use its
natural resources in a way that adversely affects
any other Due Diligence Every nation should
respect and protect the rights of other states
through the prevention and reduction of
pollution Equitable Resource No nation use more
than its share of a natural resource
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Principles underlying Customary Law
The Principle of Information and Cooperation A
nation provide notice and other information to
nations when its actions might affect the
interests and affairs of other nations
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Organizations Shaping International Env Policy
United Nations United nation Environment
Programme helps nations understand and solve
environmental problems World Bank Funds projects
in developing countries European Union Can sign
treaties and enact regulations
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Organizations Shaping International Env Policy
World Trade Organization Has authority to impose
financial penalties on countries that do not
comply with its trade laws. This my be
environmentally detrimental. Nongovernmental
Organizations Includes groups like Green Peace,
The Nature Conservancy, etc.