Environmental Policy

What is environmental policy and how is it developed?An environmental policy consists of laws, rules, and regulations related to an environmental problem that are developed, implemented, and enforced by one or more government agencies.  

Developing environmental policy involves identifying a problem and its causes, coming up with a solution, implementing the solution, and monitoring and adapting the solution as needed.

(Source 3)

Regulate activities that have environmental impact on US Goals

o Protect environment  o Interfere as little as possible with commerce o Limit the costs of protecting environment

NEPA- National Enviornmental Policy Act (1970)• Requires agenicies to weigh in environmental values

when making decisionso Environmental Assessments and Impact Statements

 EPA- Environmental Protection Agency • U.S. protected from risks to human health and

environment by effective federal laws• Environmental protection contributes to diverse,

sustainable, economically productive communities/ ecosystems

 

U.S. Environmental Policy Today

(Source 7)(Source 8)

Environmental Movement in the US: 60's-70's -Caused by different factors:• Japanese fishing crew exposed to radiation/ nuclear

fall out from bomb testing in bikini islands• Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969• Interstate Highway System- bulldozing ecosystems

and communities -No longer elitist movement, masses and grass roots (enveloped in hippie movement) -Movement for:• Protection of Environment• Clean Water and Air• Nuclear waste management

http://www.sustainabilitymedia.com/blog/02010/apr/21/40-years-modern-environmental-movement-4-minutes/

(Source 5)

BP Oil SpillIncident:• Deepwater Horizon Exploded• Flowed for 3 months• 205.8 milllion gallons of oil into

     Gulf (3,850 sq miles) Effect:• Damaged marine life/fishing/tourism• Blame game

 White House Reaction:• Obama reversed plans to allow

      offshore drilling• Banned all offshore drilling off east

      coast and in Gulf for next 7 years(Source 9)

The most important issue facing U.S. Government regarding Environmental Policy is:

Global Warming

What exactly is global warming and how does it work?

(Source 2)

Global Warming in U.S. Policy Agenda:• On January 2, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

imposed its first regulations related to greenhouse gas emissions.

• President Obama incorporated addressing climate change as a large part of his election campaign.

• He planned to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas pollutants.  

• Former presidential candidate Al Gore is also a prominent advocate of the causes and dangers of global warming.

(Source 2)

Why is Global Warming an Important Issue?

Economy

Environment

Biology

The Environmental Impact

     -Polar ice caps are melting

    -Thermal expansion of water

    -Extreme weather conditions:o Droughtso Downpourso Heat Waveso Hurricanes

   -"Cloud feedback"

   -Greenhouse gases being trapped      -Legislators are trying to change this (Source 11)

(Source 12)(Source 14)

Goal: 350 PPM(Source 14)

The Biological Impact

Disease:-Diseases spread in warmer climates:

Malaria Yellow Fever Avian Malaria in Hawaii Depleting coral reefs and oysters

-Mosquitoes' and other insects' breeding cycles have shortened

Species:-Temperature increases can have harmful effects on species-70 frog species already have become extinct -Emperor Penguins predicted to decline 87-95% by 2100

It could take millions of years for a species' genes to mutate for survival... (Source 10)

(Source 13)

The Anopheles mosquito still exists in the U.S.It could be re-introduced if not controlled

(Source 15)

The Economic Impact

-Decrease in winter tourism

-Extensive hurricane damages

-Costly disease management

-Warmer temperatures=lower crop yield

The economy is a subsidiary of the environment:                    If the environment is destroyed, so is

the economy...(Source 16)(Source 17)

What will happen if global warming is not dealt with?

•  The Direct Effect of Global Warming: Meliting Ice Caps• Direct effect of global warming

(Source 6)

Melting Ice Caps will Cause:Indirect effects of Global WarmingWildlife: Sea-Levels:

           

(Source 6)(Source 19)

Extreme Weather Conditions:

(Source 6)(Source 19)

What do you think should be done about global warming?

The Top 10 Things You Can Do to Reduce Global Warming

1.Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle2.Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning3.Change a Light Bulb4.Drive Less and Drive Smart5.Buy Energy-Efficient Products6.Use Less Hot Water7.Use the "Off" Switch8.Plant a Tree9.Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company

10. Encourage Others to Conserve

(Source 1)

Government Intervention

Government action starts with pressure from grassroots organizations

Grassroots organizations are started by the people

Serious laws and policies must be made to help reduce global warming causing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and more. 

The EPA has supported environmental acts such as the Clean Air Act of 1970, National Energy Act of 1978, Energy Policy Act of 1992, and many more.

Yet recently, environmental policy has been weakening and been given less importance in government.

(Source 18)

Individuals matter! We can all help to clean up and influence members of government who

make policy.

Works Consulted1.  West, Larry. "Top 10 Things You Can Do to Reduce Global Warming ." About.com n. pag. Web. 9 Jan 2011.

<http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/tp/globalwarmtips.htm>.2. "Global Warming." New York Times (2011): n. pag. Web. 9 Jan 2011.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html.3.  Tyler, George. Living in the environment: principles, connections, and solutions. BrooksCole Pub Co, 2007. Print.4. Wilson, James. "The Policy- Making Process." American Government. 9th. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Print. 5. "40 years of the Modern Environmental Movement in 4 Minutes." Web. 9 Jan 2011.

http://www.sustainabilitymedia.com/blog/02010/apr/21/40-years-modern-environmental-movement-4-minutes/.6.  "What Will Happen If Global Warming Continues?" Free Articles Directory | Submit Articles - ArticlesBase.com. Web. 09 Jan.

2011. <http://www.articlesbase.com/news-and-society-articles/what-will-happen-if-global-warming-continues-1478307.html>.7.  "National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)." U.S. Environmental Policy Act. N.p., 11/06/2010. Web. 9 Jan 2011.

<http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/>. 8.  "Our Mission and What We Do." U.S. Environmental Policy Act. N.p., 11/10/2010. Web. 9 Jan 2011.

http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/whatwedo.html. 9. "Obama: No offshore drilling in East Coast waters ." Associated Press (2010): n. pag. Web. 9 Jan 2011.

<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40455797/ns/us_news-environment/>.10.    Root, Terry L. "Fingerprints of Global Warming on Wild Animals and Plants." Nature Publishing Group. 2 Jan. 2003.             Web. 5 Jan. 2011. <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v421/n6918/abs/nature01333.html>.11.    Leake, Jonathan. "Polar Ice Caps Melting Faster." The Times | UK News. 8 Feb. 2009. Web. 5 Jan. 2011.             <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5683655.ece>.   

Works Consulted (Continued)12.    "Expect More Droughts, Heavy Downpours, Excessive Heat, And Intense Hurricanes Due To Global Warming, NOAA." Science                Daily. 20 June 2008. Web. 5 Jan. 2011. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080619175522.htm>.13.    Arak, Joel. "Global Warming May Spread Diseases." CBS News. 20 June 2002. Web. 7 Jan. 2011.                <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/20/tech/main512920.shtml>.14.    CO2Now.org. 7 Jan. 2011. Web. 8 Jan. 2011. <http://co2now.org/>.15.    "Malaria Surveillance in the United States." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 21 Apr. 2009. Web. 7 Jan. 2011.                <http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsmalariasurveillance/>.16.    Breiling, M., and P. Charamza. "The Impact of Global Warming on Winter Tourism and Skiing." SpringerLink. 3 Dec. 1999. Web.                5 Jan. 2011. <http://www.springerlink.com/content/320jtb6hvg1eyqcn/>.17.    "The Economic Impact of Global Warming." OilPrice.com. 10 Dec. 2009. Web. 7 Jan. 2011. <http://oilprice.com/Environment/Global-Warming/The-economic-impact-of-global-warming.html>.18.    United States. History of the Clean Air Act . , Web. 12 Jan 2011.        http://epa.gov/oar/caa/caa_history.html. 19. Naik, Abhijit. "What Will Happen If Global Warming Continues." Buzzle Web Portal:Intelligent Life on the Web. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-will-happen-if-global-warming-continues.html.