1969
Cleavland took the spotlight for uncontrolled contamination in our water - sparked change
Oil well in Santa Barbara, California blew out, flooding popular beaches.
The Clean water Act (1972)
Introduced to Congress in 1969, took 3 years to become official. It was the first law to establish health-related goals.
- Surface waters must be safe for swimming and drinking
- Regulated pollutants that cities and industries are allowed to discharge int
Environmental Policy
The official rules or regulations concerning the environment adopted, implemented, and enforced by some government agency.
BBC, 2007
about 70% of the 22,000 people in 21 countries polled in 2007 stated they are ready to make significant changes to the way they live to avoid climate change.
NEPA (1969)
The cornerstone of U.S. environmental policy, the law that established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), where all federal agencies are required to create an "environmental impact statement" (EIS) that analyzes the effects their actions have or
Every EIS must contain:
1. purpose and need for the project
2. alternatives to the proposed action (including taking no action)
3. a statement of the positive and negative environmental impacts of the proposed activities.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) (1970)
Provided the first nationally standardized rules in the U.S. to identify, monitor, and reduce air contaminants. The core is to focus on 7 major "criteria pollutants"/"conventional pollutants" - sulfur oxides, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx),
The Endangered Species Act (1973)
Administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Identified species facing extinction, the factors and protected listed species.
The Superfund Act
� 1980/modified in 1984 by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)
� Aimed at rapid containment, cleanup, remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites
� Authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to undertake emergency actions when a thr
federal laws (statutes)
are enacted by Congress and signed by the president.
The Judicial Branch
1. decides what the precise meaning of a law is
2. decides whether or not laws have been broken
3. decides whether a law violates the constitution
CITES (1973)
(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) An international agreement between 175 governments that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival
Montreal Protocol
meeting in 1987 where a group of nations met in Canada and agreed to take steps to fight against Ozone Depletion-CFC's banned, An international agreement signed in 1987 by 105 countries and the European Community (now European Union). The protocol called
Basel Convention (1992)
restricts the international transport of hazardous waste. Allows states to export hazardous waste only with the prior informed consent of the importing state as well as of any states that the waste passes through in transit. Enhanced by the Rotterdam Conv
1. Give your thoughts on the Case Study: 350.org: Making a Change
This was a fascinating example of the power of everyday people to make change. We often focus on government entities to make those decisions for us or we wait for them to take action, however, in this example, a group of students got started a movement th
2. What is environmental policy? How are policies formed?
Environmental policy refers to the commitment of an organization to the laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues and sustainability. Environmental policies are formed through negotiation and compromise and ideally wit
3. Describe three important provisions of NEPA?
NEPA - The National Environmental Policy Act is the cornerstone of U.S. environmental policy:
1. It established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ): an oversight board for for general environmental conditions.
2. It directs federal agencies to take
4. List four important U.S. environmental laws (besides NEPA) and briefly describe what each does. (2 points)
The Clean Air Act(1970) - Provided the first nationally standardized rules in the U.S. to identify, monitor, and reduce air contaminants.
The Clean Water Act (1972) - It was the first law to establish health-related goals: - Surface waters must be safe fo
5. Why are international environmental connections and treaties often ineffective? What can make them more successful?
Often many developing countries have lacked the capacity to address environmental issues effectively and very often different cultures will address those issues in diverse ways.
6. Why is the World Trade Organization controversial?
Many argue that the body's policies and rules favor trade at the expense of workers and the environment.
7. List two broad goals of environmental education identified by the National Environmental Education Act.
1) To improve understanding among the general public of the natural and built environment and the relationships between humans and their environment, including global aspects of environmental problems.
2) To encourage post secondary students to pursue car
8. What is citizen science, and what are some of its benefits? Describe one such important project.
Citizen science, is a movement in which volunteers are helping professional scientists collect and analyze data. This mobilization of volunteers allows a wide range of data to be collected quickly. One of the important projects is The Audobon Christmas Bi
9. List five things each of us could do to help preserve our common environment.
1. Buy less
2. Reduce Excess Packaging
3. Avoid disposable Items
4. Conserve Energy
5. Save Water
10. Define sustainability and describe some of its principal tenets.
Sustainabilty means being able to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
11. In your opinion, how much environmental protection is too much? Think of a practical example in which some stakeholders may feel oppressed by governmental regulations. How would you justify or criticize these regulations?
I don't think there is a danger of protecting the environment too much at this time in our history. If we were to make a mistake, I would like to see us make a mistake on the side of the environment. Businesses often feel constricted by environmental regu
12. Give your opinion on the 2000 United Nations "millennium assessment". Are the goals and objectives attainable? Why or why not.
I think that these are amazing and achievable goals: improving access to education and health and ending hunger and poverty, improving maternal and infant health, combatting major diseases and supporting environmental quality. Why wouldn't they be attaina
13. From Exploring Science: The Christmas Bird Count, discuss the Christmas Bird Count and how does counting birds contribute to sustainability.
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a census of birds in the Western Hemisphere, performed annually in the early Northern-hemisphere winter by volunteer birdwatchers and administered by the National Audubon Society. The purpose is to provide population data
environmental law
A field of law concerning the conservation and use of natural resources and the control of pollution
A body of statements defining what is acceptable environmental behavior for individuals and groups, according to the larger community, and attempting to b
legislative branch
A branch of government that makes the nations laws.
Bicameral: Congress=Senate (200 members) + House (based on population
judicial branch
Division of the federal government that is made up of the national courts;interprets laws, punishes criminals, and settles disputes between states
1. decides what the precise meaning of a law is
2. decides whether or not laws have been broken
3. decides w
executive branch
Led by the President, carries out laws, heads the military, holds meetings in the White House - Found in the Second Article of the Constitution
Cost-benefit analysis
A comparison of the marginal costs of a government project or program with the marginal benefits to decide whether or not to employ resources in that project or program and to what extent
UNCED
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
Montreal Protocol (1987)
Protects the stratospheric ozone. This was a meeting in 1987 where a group of nations met in Canada and agreed to take steps to fight against Ozone Depletion. CFC's - Chlorofluorocarbons were banned
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
1994. directs governments to share data on climate change, to develop national plans for controlling greenhouse gases, and to cooperate in planning for adaptation to climate change. Encouraged reduction in GHG (Green House Gasses)
Kyoto Protocol
establishes legally binding commitments for the reduction of four greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride), and two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) Took place in Rio De Janeiro in 1992
Environmental Literacy
A basic understanding of how ecosystems function and the impact of our choices on the environment
Affluenza
unsustainable addiction to overconsumption and materialism exhibited in the lifestyles of affluent consumers in the united states and other developed countries
SEAC - The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC)
(SEAC) is a student and youth run national network whose mission it is to:
Build a network of diverse grassroots struggles that transcends current fabricated, oppressive constructs by sharing stories, skills, knowledge and radical analysis to dismantle de
Action - Create a Wilderness Preserve
This area will have no roads or graded paths
and will not attract a large number of visitors. We will set the forest aside for wildlife
and plants to exist without human interference. Designating some or all of the woods
as wilderness preserve will cost a
Action - Create Hiking and Biking Trails -
Paved or graded biking trails will allow many
different types of visitors to enjoy 400 Acre Wood including walkers, cyclist, families
with strollers, and people in wheel chairs. The trees removed per acre of trail can be
sold for lumber at $10 per tree. A
sustainability
Being able to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.