Chapter 21 Environmental Policy

1. Chapter 21 Environmental Policy Logan Eastman Brad Frederick Vanere Maynard Craig Pais Nick Rhinehart Bekah Swineford

2. Why is environmental policy so controversial? • What unique features shape our environmental policy? Questions to Consider • What would you personally be willing to give up to improve our environment? • Why is it so difficult to have a sane environmental policy?

3. Controversial Environmental Policy Introduction • Creates “winners” and “losers” • Losers = those who must pay costs without receiving (many) benefits; whether an interest group or an average citizen

4. Controversial Environmental Policy Introduction • Scientific Uncertainty • experts do not know/disagree about what is happening and how to change it • i.e. greenhouse effect

5. Controversial Environmental Policy Introduction • Entrepreneurial politics • stirring up controversy and finding “villains” • produces desirable changes and/or distorted priorities

6. Unique Features Shaping Environmental Policy The American Context • More adversarial than in Europe • National Uniformity with strict rules, regulations, deadlines, and expensive technology • Government versus business (i.e. Clean Air Act)

7. Unique Features Shaping Environmental Policy The American Context • England: flexible, regional rules • Voluntary compliance • Cooperation of government and businesses • Effective policies

8. Unique Features Shaping Environmental Policy The American Context • (In US) depends heavily upon States • “In a federal system of government, “science” rarely makes allocative decisions; local politics usually does.”

9. Types of Politics Shaping Environmental Policy The American Context • Entrepreneurial • Majoritarian • Interest group • Client