Page 204 - Environment: The Science Behind the Stories

• A fourth wave of environmental policy is now building Categorize the different approaches to environmental
internationally around sustainable development and global policy
climate change. (pp. 195–196) • Tort law has been a traditional approach to resolving
environmental disputes. (p. 198)
list the institutions involved with international
environmental policy and describe how nations • Legislation from Congress and regulations from adminis-
handle transboundary issues trative agencies make up most federal policy. These top-
down approaches are referred to as command-and-control.
• Many environmental problems cross political boundaries (p. 199)
and must be addressed internationally. (p. 196)
• Economic policy tools include green taxes to discourage
• International policy includes customary law (law by shared tra- undesirable activities, subsidies to encourage targeted
ditional custom) and conventional law (law by treaty). (p. 196) activities, and market-based approaches such as permit
• The United Nations, World Bank, European Union, World trading that harness market dynamics to achieve policy
Trade Organization, and nongovernmental organizations goals. (pp. 199–202)
all shape international policy. (pp. 196–197)

testing Your Comprehension

1. Describe two major justifications for environmental pol- 6. Enumerate the steps of developing environmental policy
icy, and discuss three problems that environmental policy and explain how each is achieved.
commonly seeks to address. 7. What is the difference between customary law and con-
2. What is the tragedy of the commons? Explain how the ventional law? What challenges do transboundary envi-
concept might apply to an unregulated industry that is a ronmental problems present?
source of water pollution. 8. Name a few organizations that oversee international envi-
3. Define free riders in the context of environmental policy ronmental law.
making. How does the free rider predicament undermine 9. Compare and contrast the three major approaches to envi-
private voluntary efforts to protect the environment? ronmental policy: tort law, command-and-control, and
4. What is meant by a regulatory taking? economic policy tools.
5. Summarize how the first, second, and third waves of 10. Explain how each of the following work: a green tax, a
environmental policy in U.S. history differed from one subsidy, and marketable emissions permits.
another. Describe what now appears to be the fourth wave.

Seeking Solutions

1. Classical economist Adam Smith argued that individu- nongovernmental organizations. If you could gain the CHAPTER 7 • Envi R onm E n TA l Poli C y : mA king D EC i si ons A n D s olving P R obl E m s
als can benefit society by pursuing their own self-interest support of just one of these institutions for a policy you
(Chapter 6; p. 161). Do you agree? Can you describe a favored, which would you choose? Why?
situation in which a person acting in self-interest either 4. Consider the main approaches to environmental policy—
(a) benefits society by addressing an environmental prob- tort law, command-and-control, and economic policy
lem, or (b) harms society by causing an environmental tools. Describe an advantage and a disadvantage of each.
problem? How might policy help in either situation? Do you think any one approach is most effective? Could
What are some advantages and disadvantages of environ- we do with just one approach, or does it help to have more?
mental laws and regulations?
5. Think of one environmental problem that you would like
2. Reflect on the causes for the transitions in U.S. history to see solved. From what you’ve learned about policy-
from one type of environmental policy to another. Now making in this chapter, describe how you think you could
peer into the future, and think about how life and society best create policy to address this problem.
might be different in 25, 50, or 100 years. What would 6. tHINk It tHroUGH You have just been elected to
you predict about the environmental policy of the future, Congress as the representative from the Pennsylvania
and why? What issues might it address? Do you predict district that includes the town of Dimock. What policy
we will have more or less environmental policy?
approaches would you choose to pursue to search for solu-
3. Compare the roles of the United Nations, the World Bank, tions to the debate over hydraulic fracturing that has been
the European Union, the World Trade Organization, and dividing your constituents? Give reasons for your choices. 203

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