Are Environmental Problems Getting Worse or Better? › courses › political-science › 17-32... · 2020-01-04 · Clash of interests, ideas, & values that occurs -- inside and

17.32 Limited Earth?17.32 Limited Earth? 11

Are Environmental Problems Are Environmental Problems Getting Worse or Better?Getting Worse or Better?


Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Policy

Pattern of Government decisions and Pattern of Government decisions and actions intended to address environmental actions intended to address environmental problemsproblems–– Defining environmental problemsDefining environmental problems–– Devising programs and activities to manage Devising programs and activities to manage

themthem


Environmental Policy MakingEnvironmental Policy Making

How the government determines what How the government determines what are/not environmental problems and which are/not environmental problems and which deserve government attentiondeserve government attention–– InstitutionsInstitutions

How publicHow public concerns are translated in to concerns are translated in to government concernsgovernment concerns

–– ProceduresProcedures


Environmental PoliticsEnvironmental Politics

Clash of interests, ideas, & values that Clash of interests, ideas, & values that occurs occurs ---- inside and outside of inside and outside of government government ---- in the course of defining in the course of defining environmental problems and deciding environmental problems and deciding what government should (not) do about what government should (not) do about themthem–– Include public participationInclude public participation

VotingVotingLetter writingLetter writingLobbyingLobbying


Environmental PoliticsEnvironmental PoliticsWhat are the real problems we face as a society What are the real problems we face as a society and how do we characterize and prioritize them?and how do we characterize and prioritize them?–– Environmental problems vs. other problemsEnvironmental problems vs. other problems

Should our government do anything about the Should our government do anything about the environmental problem(s) we identify?environmental problem(s) we identify?If so, what are our choices for government If so, what are our choices for government action? What can government do and what action? What can government do and what should government do?should government do?Once we know what we want government to do, Once we know what we want government to do, how do we make it happen?how do we make it happen?


Scientific & Engineering Data in Scientific & Engineering Data in Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Policy

Where does science and technology come Where does science and technology come into play?into play?–– Defining the Defining the somesome of the characteristics of of the characteristics of

environmental problemsenvironmental problems–– Defining Defining some aspectssome aspects of the solutions for of the solutions for

solving the problemssolving the problems


Scientific & Engineering Data in Scientific & Engineering Data in Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Policy

“Emerging” science & technology“Emerging” science & technology–– TentativeTentative–– UncertainUncertain–– SpeculativeSpeculativeLooking for the truth vs. Looking for Looking for the truth vs. Looking for evidenceevidence–– Many ways to present dataMany ways to present data


Are Environmental Problems Are Environmental Problems Getting Worse or Better?Getting Worse or Better?

What do the Data show?What do the Data show?


Things Are Getting WorseThings Are Getting Worse


World PopulationWorld Population

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 2040 2060

Year

Popu

latio

n (m

illio

ns)

PopulationProjection


World Population GrowthWorld Population Growth

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 2040 2060Year

Per

cent

Gro

wth

GrowthProjection


GDP per capita (2000)GDP per capita (2000)

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

GDP/pop

USJapanGermanyUKSwedenMexicoChinaIndiaNigeria


COCO22 EmissionsEmissionsper Capita (1996)per Capita (1996)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

USAJa

panGerm

any

UKSwed

enM

exico

China

India

Nigeria

Wor

ldC

O2

(ton

nes p

er c

apita

)


Energy ConsumptionEnergy Consumptionper capita (1997)per capita (1997)

050

100150200250300350400

USJa

pan

German

y

UKSwed

enM

exico

ChinaIn

diaNige

riaW

orld

Mill

ions

BT

Us p

er C

apita


Municipal TrashMunicipal Trashkg per capitakg per capita

0100200300400500600700800

US

Japan

German

y UK

Sweden

Mexi

coChina

India

Nigeria

Wor

ld

kg p

er c

apita


Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint

05

101520253035

US

Japan

German

y

UKM

exico

China

India

Nigera

Wor

ldA

cres

per

Cap

ita Eco. FootprintEco. Productive Land

Ecological Footprint


Things Are Getting BetterThings Are Getting Better


Population GrowthPopulation Growth19901990--20002000

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

USJa

pan

German

y

UKSw

eden

Mex

icoChina

India

Nigeria

Wor

ld%

Ann

ual G

row

th


COCO22 Emissions per GDPEmissions per GDP(1996)(1996)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

USAJa

panGerm

any

UKSw

eden

Mex

icoChina

India

Nigeria

CO

2/G

DP


BTUs Consumed per GDPBTUs Consumed per GDP(1996)(1996)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

USAJa

panGerm

any

UKSw

eden

Mex

icoChina

India

Nigeria

BT

Us/

GD

P


US Energy Use & GDPUS Energy Use & GDP

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1953

1956

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

BTUs

/ G

DP


US SOUS SO22 Pollution & GDPPollution & GDP

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

SO2

/ GDP

U.S. U.S. NONOxx Emissions Emissions vsvs GDP/PopGDP/PopN

O-x

Em

issi

on

s

GDP per Capita5000 10000 20000 30000

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1930

19351940

19451950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1984198519861987

198819891990199119921993

19941995199619971998


US CO2 EmissionsUS CO2 Emissions

1,250

1,300

1,350

1,400

1,450

1,500

CO2 Emissions

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997


US CO2 Emissions / GDPUS CO2 Emissions / GDP

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

CO2

Emis

sion

s/G

DP

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997


ENDEND


Simon & KahnSimon & Kahn

Life expectancy is rising globallyLife expectancy is rising globallyBirth rates are fallingBirth rates are fallingGlobal food supply is increasingGlobal food supply is increasingNo statistical evidence of species lossNo statistical evidence of species lossFish catch is increasingFish catch is increasingAgriculture not constrained by land Agriculture not constrained by land availabilityavailability


Simon & KahnSimon & Kahn

US farmland is not being lost to US farmland is not being lost to urbanizationurbanizationWater is not growing scarceWater is not growing scarceNo sign of serious climate changeNo sign of serious climate changeMineral resources are become less scarceMineral resources are become less scarceNuclear power is safe and competitiveNuclear power is safe and competitiveAir and Water pollution threats are Air and Water pollution threats are exaggeratedexaggerated


U.S. PopulationU.S. PopulationUrban & RuralUrban & Rural

0

50

100

150

200

250

Popu

latio

n (m

illio

ns)

1900 1920 1940 1960 1990Year

RuralUrban


US Vehicles MilesUS Vehicles Milesper capitaper capita

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

Year

Veh

icle

Mile

s per

Cap

ita


Federal Environmental Laws PassedFederal Environmental Laws Passed(including amendments)(including amendments)

0123456789

10N

umbe

r Pa

ssed

1945-19

50

1951-19

55

1956-19

60

1961-19

65

1966-19

70

1971-19

75

1976-19

80

1981-19

85

1986-19

90

1991-19

95

1996-20

00

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Are Environmental Problems Getting Worse or Better? › courses › political-science › 17-32... · 2020-01-04 · Clash of interests, ideas, & values that occurs -- inside and