full cost pricing
Governments can create subsidies and levy taxes to require inclusion of harmful environmental and health costs in the market prices of some goods and services.
market failures
Governments can use taxes and subsidies to level the playing field wherever the marketplace is not operating freely due to unfair advantages held by some players.
the tragedy of the commons
Government is the only power that can preserve common or open access renewable resources, such as clean air, groundwater, and ozone in the stratosphere.
environmental policy
Environmental laws and regulations that are developed, implemented, and enforced and the environmental programs that are funded by one or more government agencies.
policy life cycle
Recognition, Formulation, Implementation, Control
the humility principle
Our understanding of nature and how our actions affect nature is quite limited.
the reversibility principle
Avoid taking actions that cannot be reversed if a decision turns out to be wrong. For example, nuclear power leaves waste that humans must be responsible for thousands of years after the humans who create it die.
the precautionary principle
When substantial evidence indicates that an activity threatens human health or the environment, take precautionary measures to prevent or reduce such harm, even if some of the cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.
the net energy principle
Avoid the widespread use of energy alternatives or technologies with low net energy yields. Subsidies to open the market on such alternatives waste government funds.
the prevention principle
Whenever possible, make decisions that help prevent a problem from occurring or becoming worse.
the polluter-says principle
Develop regulations and use economic tools such as green taxes to ensure that polluters bear the costs of the pollutants and the wastes they produce.
the public access and participation principle
Citizens should have open access to environmental data and the right to participate in developing, critiquing, and modifying environmental policies. Environmental education should receive a high priority.
the human rights principle
All people have a right to live in an environment that doesn't harm their health and well being.
the environmental justice principle
Establish environmental policy so that no group of people bears an unfair share of the burden created by pollution, environmental degradation, or the execution of environmental laws.
Why is passing a law not enough to make a policy?
Because the government needs to back it with money from Congress to implement and enforce the law.
4 principles to govern use of public land (conservation biologists, environmental economists, free Market economists)
1. They should be used primarily for protecting biodiversity, wildlife habitats, and ecosystems.
2. No one should ever receive government subsidies or tax breaks for using or extracting resources on public lands.
3. The American people deserve fair compen
proposals to get the U.S. Congress to open up more federal land for development (developers and resource extractors)
1. Sell public land to corporates or individuals.
2. Slash funding for administration of regulations over public land use.
3. Cut old-growth forests in national forests and replace them with tree plantations.
4. Open national parks, refugees, and wilderne
environmental law
A body of statements defining what is acceptable environmental behavior for individuals and groups, according to a larger community , and attempting to balance competing social and private interests.
statutory laws
Developed and passed by legislative bodies such as federal and state governments.
administrative laws
Administrative rules and regulations, executive orders, and enforcement decisions related to the implementation and interpretation of statutory laws.
common law
A body of unwritten rules and principles derived from thousands of past legal decisions along with commonly accepted practices.
civil suits
Most environmental lawsuits brought to settle disputes between two parties.
arbitration
Another form of resolving a dispute, like a trial.
mediation
When the two parties sit down and discuss the problem with a professional mediator.
natural resources defense council
Organization that goes to court to stop harmful practices within the environment.
name 6 areas the government identified for improvement
Climate change, acid deposition, eutrophication, toxic chemicals, waste disposal, groundwater depletion, unsustainable use of renewable resources and nonrenewable resources.