A Break from the ‘Doom and Gloom’ Alter- natives Awaren ess- buildin g Regulat ions Direct...
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Transcript of A Break from the ‘Doom and Gloom’ Alter- natives Awaren ess- buildin g Regulat ions Direct...
GEOG 101: DAY 24A Break from the ‘Doom and Gloom’
Alter-natives
Awareness-building
Regulations
Directaction
Cultural change
Political leadership
Techno advances
Political/public support
Incentives & disincentives
HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS
I have a brief (hopeful!) article to give to everyone.
Brief talk by Lucas Anderson on the presentation on the presentation by Doug White on the implications of the Tsilhqot'in land decision.
Then we’ll finish up the notes on environmental ethics and environmental economics.
Chapter 23 is on strategies for sustainability with a focus on campuses; please read on your own. There will be exam questions
After we finish the slides from Tuesday, I would like to hear what you think are the most effective strategies for promoting social change?
SOCIAL CHANGE STRATEGIES FORINSTITUTIONS AND HOUSEHOLDS
For institutions: Examples: lobbying (protests, letters to
politicians and corporations, on-line petitions);
electoral (voting for people who stand – at least in theory – for the right things;
legal work (challenging government decisions in court);
regulations (for instance, to protect the environment);
policy development (showing governments and corporations that there are alternatives that have worked in other jurisdictions and that can be win/win)
SOCIAL CHANGE STRATEGIES FORINSTITUTIONS AND HOUSEHOLDS
For institutions: influencing public opinion through
opinion-makers (celebrities and religious leaders – Suzuki, Bishop Tutu, etc.) and the media, both mainstream and alternative (documentaries, web sites, social media, etc.);
direct action – political (such as sit-ins, as at Clayoquot) and lifestyle (modeling a different way of doing things while challenging by-laws and old conventions – front yard gardening/ urban agriculture, selling medical marijuana).
SOCIAL CHANGE STRATEGIES FORINSTITUTIONS AND HOUSEHOLDS
For individuals and households: [Examples] education (dangers of smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, need
to adopt more environmentally-friendly lifestyles, getting kids when they’re young; also relates to opinion-makers and media);
citizenship (fostering public discussion where people feel an ownership of the final result, as with charrettes and study circles);
incentives and disincentives (people are responsive to their pocket books – make bad behaviours more expensive and good behaviours less expensive [green taxes, etc.]; the same applies to corporations);
alternatives (creating and demonstrating the existence of – e.g. blue boxes for recycling, enhanced transit, eco-labelling).
It’s also good when you can combine strategies and combine arguments – cycling as environmentally virtuous, but as a boost to health (see TED talks by Jeff Speck and Majora Carter).
FIND YOUR NICHE… If you do decide to get involved in social
change work, find a niche that matches your talents and what you enjoy doing: Are you a good organizer? Do you like to do research and come up with
alternative policies? Are you a good educator/ communicator? Do you like to document things through text,
photos, or film? Do you like to be at the centre of activity and
confront authority? Do you want to reform institutions from within? Do you like to create and popularize
alternatives?
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY(CHAPTER 22)
22-7
UPON SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THIS CHAPTER, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
Describe environmental policy and assess its societal context
Identify the institutions important to Canadian environmental policy
Recognize major Canadian environmental laws List the institutions involved with international
environmental policy Categorize the different approaches to
environmental policy Describe how nations handle transboundary
issues
22-8
CENTRAL CASE: THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF LAKE ERIE
1970s: Lake Erie “died” of pollution International effort brought Lake Erie back using
touch legal restrictions on both sides of the border
Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
42 Areas of Concern with tailored Remedial Action Plans
One example of how people and organizations work together
“When you get ready to vote, make sure you know what you’re doing.”
– Bob Hunter, Journalist and Co-founder of Greenpeace
22-9
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Policy = a formal set of general plans and principles to address problems and guide decisions
Public Policy = policy made by governments that consists of laws, regulations, orders, incentives, and practices
Environmental Policy = pertains to human interactions with the environment • Regulates resource use or reduce pollution
22-10
22-11
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ADDRESSES ISSUES OF EQUITY AND RESOURCE USE The tragedy of the commons = the
idea that a resource held in common that is accessible to all and is unregulated will eventually become overused and degraded
Free Riders = reducing pollution tempts any one person to cheat • Private voluntary efforts are less
effective than mandated efforts External Cost = harmful impacts result
from market transaction but are borne by people not involved in the transaction
22-12
MANY FACTORS HINDER IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Environmental laws are challenged, derided, and ignored
Environmental policy involves government regulations- Businesses and individuals view laws as
overly restrictive and unresponsive to human needs
Most environmental problems develop gradually- Human behavior is geared toward short-
term needs- News media have short attention spans - Politicians often act out of their own
short-term interest 22-13
ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS AND BEST PRACTICES CAN BE PROMOTED BY VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES
Voluntary guidelines Sector-based and self-enforced Canadian mining industry has undertaken some
voluntary initiatives ISO 14001 standards for environmental
management Promote consistency and best practices in
environmental management Are they as effective as legislation?
22-14
CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ARISES FROM ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999) Federal government shares responsibility for
environmental protection Provinces/territories (principal responsibility) Aboriginal Municipal/local governments
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)
22-15
CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY
22-16
CANADA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES ARE INFLUENCED BY OUR NEIGHBOUR
Influenced by the U.S. in its environmental management approach because of: The trading relationship (e.g. NAFTA) The environmental resources we
share
Canada-U.S. binational management of transboundary pollution has been characterized by cooperation and dialogue
22-17
LEGAL INSTRUMENTS ARE USED TO ENSURE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS ARE ACHIEVED
Acts = laws, or statutes, proposed and voted upon by the Parliament
Regulations = specific legal instruments, a detailed set of requirements established by governments to allow them to enforce acts
Agreements = enforceable or voluntary; with the goal of streamlining, clarifying, or harmonizing the administration of environmental legislation
Permits = document that grant legal permission to carry out an activity
22-18
LEGAL INSTRUMENTS ARE USED TO ENSURE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS ARE ACHIEVED (CONT’D)
Federal (e.g. Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Fisheries Act, Canadian Wildlife Act)
Provincial (e.g. limits on discharging harmful substances, require permits or approvals )
Aboriginal governments (e.g. resource extraction on aboriginal lands)
Municipal/local governments (e.g. water and sewage, noise, waste, zoning, pesticide use)
International agreements (e.g. U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
22-19
GOVERNMENT AND ENGOS WORK TOGETHER ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Stakeholder = any person or group that has an interest in, or might be affected by, the outcome of a particular undertaking
ENGOs = environmental nongovernmental organizations
Round table = a multi-stakeholder working group established to consult on a particular issue
22-20
DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA REQUIRE DIFFERENT REGULATORY APPROACHES
Water law in Canada developed from two historical legal concepts:
Riparian law = anyone who has legal access to the water’s edge has the legal right to withdraw water from the resource
Prior appropriation = first come, first right principle, by which one’s right to withdraw water is established by historical precedent
22-21
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY HAS CHANGED WITH THE SOCIETY AND THE ECONOMY
1780s to 1800s: frontier ethic to tame and conquer the wilderness (still widely prevalent)
1800s: regulate resource use, conservation and preservation ethics
1900s: immigrants encouraged to convert Prairie grasslands into farms; soil conservation
Late 1900s: policy responded to pollution and environmental crises (Silent Spring, 1962)
2000s: public enthusiasm for environmental protection
22-22
THE SOCIAL CONTEXT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY CHANGES OVER TIME
Factors that allowed advances in environmental policy- Wide evidence of environmental problems - People could visualize policies to deal with
problems - The political climate was ripe, with a
supportive public and leaders who were willing to act
- Economic confidence (willingness-to-pay transition)
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environmental “Kuznets curve”; as we become more affluent, do we just displace the pollution overseas??
22-25
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THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NOW GUIDES ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Sustainable development = “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
1987, United Nations Commission on Environment and Development
Has not been without controversy too vague anthropocentric prone to misuse and misinterpretation contradiction in terms
22-27
SCIENTIFIC MONITORING AND REPORTING HELPS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DECISIONS
State-of-the-environment reporting (SOER) = the collection, organization, and reporting of information that can be used to measure and monitor changes in the environment
Indicators = values that can be measured and in comparison to which changes can be assessed
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SCIENTIFIC MONITORING AND REPORTING HELPS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DECISIONS (CONT’D)
Purpose of SOER What is happening in the environment? Why is it happening? Why is it significant? What is being done about it? Is this response sustainable?
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SCIENTIFIC MONITORING AND REPORTING HELPS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DECISIONS (CONT’D)
Environment Canada takes the lead role on SOER Other federal-levels
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Parks Canada
Many municipalities also produce SOE reports Many corporations have adopted reporting as well
22-30
SOER PRESENTS ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES
So much environmental information that can be measured and reported
How to sub-divide the information Pressure–state–response (PSR) model =
based on establishing linkages and causalities
Cause-and-effect feedback loops
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22-32
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY
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INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY
International issues can be addressed through creative agreements
Customary law = practices or customs held by most cultures
Conventional law = from conventions or treaties • Montreal Protocol: nations agreed to
reduce ozone-depleting chemicals • Kyoto Protocol: reduces fossil fuel
emissions causing climate change (Canada withdrew in 2011)
22-34
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS HELP SHAPE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The United Nations helps nations understand and solve environmental problems
The European Union seeks to promote Europe’s unity and economic and social progress
The World Trade Organization has authority to impose financial penalties and can shape environmental policy (has interpreted some environmental laws as unfair barriers to trade)
The World Bank funds economic development including some unsustainable projects
22-35
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS HELP SHAPE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY (CONT’D)
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is concerned some countries may impose policies that are harmful to those who rely on fossil fuels for a substantial part of their income
International ENGOs provide funding, expertise, and research to environmental problems in diverse ways
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APPROACHES TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
22-37
SCIENCE PLAYS A ROLE IN POLICY, BUT IT CAN BE POLITICIZED Effective policy decisions are informed by
scientific research Sometimes policymakers ignore science
Cod fisher in Atlantic Canada for example• They let political ideology determine policy• Scientists at government agencies have had
their work suppressed or discredited Their jobs were threatened
When taxpayer-funded research is suppressed or distortedfor political ends, everyone loses
22-38
COMMAND-AND-CONTROL POLICY HAS IMPROVED OUR LIVES, BUT IT IS NOT PERFECT
Command-and-control approach: environmental policy sets rules or limits and threatens punishment for violators• Heavy-handed• Alternative approaches involve using
economic incentives to encourage desired outcomes and use market dynamics to meet goals
• Most current environmental laws• Have resulted in safe, healthy, comfortable
lives
22-39
COMMAND-AND-CONTROL POLICY HAS IMPROVED OUR LIVES, BUT IT IS NOT PERFECT (CONT’D)
Drawbacks of command-and-control Government actions may be well-
intentioned but not informed Interest groups–people seeking private gain–
unduly influence politicians Citizens may view policies as restrictions on
freedom Costly and less efficient in achieving goals
22-40
ECONOMIC TOOLS ALSO CAN BE USED TO ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS
Subsidy Green taxes and “polluter pays” Permit trading
22-41
ECONOMIC TOOLS ALSO CAN BE USED TO ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS (CONT’D)
Subsidy = a government giveaway of cash or resources to encourage a particular activity
• Have been used to support unsustainable activities
• Could subsidize environmentally sustainable activities instead
22-42
ECONOMIC TOOLS ALSO CAN BE USED TO ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS (CONT’D)
Green taxes = taxes on environmentally harmful activities
• Polluter pays principle = the price of a good or service includes all costs, including environmental degradation
• Gives companies financial incentives to reduce pollution
• Costs are passed on to consumers
22-43
ECONOMIC TOOLS ALSO CAN BE USED TO ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS (CONT’D)
Permit trading = government-created market in permits Businesses buy, sell, trade these permits
Emissions trading system = government-issued permits for an acceptable amount of pollution and companies buy, sell, or trade these permits with other polluters
Cap-and-trade system = a party that reduces its pollution levels can sell this credit to other parties
- Pollution is reduced overall, but does increase around polluting plants 22-44
MARKET INCENTIVES ARE BEING TRIED WIDELY ON THE LOCAL LEVEL
Charges for waste disposal according to the amount of waste they generate
Rebates to residents who buy water-efficient toilets
Discounts from power companies for using high-efficiency light bulbs and appliances
Rebate programs aimed at providing rewards for behavioural changes
22-45
ECO-LABELLING GIVES SOME CHOICE BACK TO THE CONSUMER
Ecolabelling = tells consumers which brands use environmentally benign processes
Consumers provide businesses with a powerful incentive to switch to more sustainable processes
Socially responsible investing = entails investing only in companies that have met certain criteria
22-46
CONCLUSION
Environmental policy is a problem-solving tool that uses science, ethics and economics
Conventional command-and-control approach of legislation and regulation are most common
Environmental issues often overlap political boundaries
Approaches to environmental management are currently emerging in Canada
22-47