Abstract There are numerous constraining factors that burden the process of forming an effective environmentalpolicy in Australia. This paper discusses how clashing values and ideas prevent the formulation and implementation of coherent environmentalpolicy in Australia. It looks at how Australia's over-reliance on a resource-based economy, federalist framework and failing policy processes often converge to create conjecture in the environmental arena. The conclusion is a brief summary, which reflects that the conflict and ambiguity plaguing environmentalpolicy in Australia is the direct result of a confusion of ideas.
From the Paper "A quick review of environmental policy in Australia reveals the extent of confusion surrounding the issue, this confusion can be partially attributed to Australia's dependence on and sometimes exploitation of its natural resources to generate revenue (Eckersley, 1996:89). This utilitarian trend began with European settlement and originated from the developmentalist approach to land management (Walker, 1999:24-5). An approach that fails to recognise the value of nature beyond that which is appropriate for development such as mining, logging and other economically productive practices (Aplin, 1998:173). Developmentalism comes at an immense cost to the environment; large portions of Australia's woodlands and forests have already been destroyed in the relentless pursuit of economic growth. "
Abstract This paper discusses the inherent flaws found in the American democratic system in regards to the formation of effective environmentalpolicy. It talks about the tragedy of the commons, race to the bottom theory, spillover, and economies of scale. It advocates for the formation of a centralized governmental policy in regards to the environment. This paper supports its argument through the use of examples ranging from the struggle between Maine and the Midwest in regards to acid rain, as well as mentioning several of Nixon's environmental initiatives and what is necessary to make effective environmentalpolicy on the federal level with the current form of American democracy.
From the Paper "The idea of a three branch system of government comes largely in part from the fear of factions. As do the two, four, and six year terms of service assigned to the senate, house, and presidency. These provisions help to keep a system of checks and balances in which no one group can gain too much power. However they do not only stave off factions, but make it hard for the federal government to come together and institute strong cohesive environmental policy. The constitution also dictates that any power not specifically given to the federal government goes to the states which is why the current system of decentralized environmental policy making is in place, however it is time for a change."
Abstract This paper explains that, many years ago, the development of a systematic environmentalpolicy began in Germany; but the reunification of the two German states (Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic Republic), in 1990 created a great new challenge for German environmentalpolicy because of the extensive environmental damage in the former GDR and because of the major economic crisis that started during this time. The author points out that the most remarkable result of increased environmental awareness was the development of an ?eco-industry,? a new manufacturing sector that develops pollution-control devices and other environmentally useful equipment. The paper concludes that the constantly changing world of politics requires innovative strategies to keep up with these changes; therefore, all available economic resources, environmental group leadership, and public environmental support, including the Green Party, should combine to overcome the obstacles created by potential economic and environmental tradeoffs.
Table of Contents
Literature Review
A Brief Review of Germany's Environmental History
Integration of Systems and Policies Energy and EnvironmentalPolicy Environmental Programs and Initiatives
Methodology
Results of Study
Organizational Structure of Environmental Protection in Germany
The Environment
Germany's Future
Economic and Political Options for Environmental Protection in Germany
Traditional Features of German EnvironmentalPolicy Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendations
From the Paper "Regulations and government actions to protect nature and human beings against environmentally hazardous activities of commercial and industrial firms have a long history in Germany. Environmental protection is anchored in private and public law, including building, public health and sanitation, and police laws. The Water Rights Act and the Factories Act set the standard for many subsequent laws. The various regulations created to prevent offensive emissions from becoming a nuisance to health and property were systematized and concentrated for the first time in the Prussian Industrial Statute of 1845."
Tags: green, regulation, damage, eco-industry, green
A discussion on ensuring that environmentalpolicies are translated correctly by corporations, in order to combat organizational barriers to policy implementation, as discussed in the article "ISO 14001: A Case of Cultural Myopia" published in the Eco-M
Abstract This paper reviews an article entitled: "ISO 14001: A Case of Cultural Myopia" published in the Eco-Management and Auditing Journal in June, 2000 by John Moxen and Peter A. Strachen and relates that the purpose of the article is to add to the process of evaluation of the efficacy of the ISO 14001 system of environmental management. The paper comments that the system's purpose is for ensuring that environmentalpolicies are translated properly by corporations from the environmentalpolicies into the behaviors of the organization and specifically for combating "organizational barriers to policy implementation." After discussing the situation the paper comments that it is obvious from the review of this journal article that ISO 14001 does not hold great promise for enabling successful and effective environmental management within corporations.
From the Paper "The danger presented by ISO 14001 is that it has the capacity to create additional barriers to effective and creative environmental management strategies and solutions. The systems of hierarchy prescribed in ISO 14001 are very likely to effectuate what Moxen and Strachen term a "role culture" which is a culture that vests much value in tradition and precedents and observation of rules of a formal nature and is a culture that effectively places impassable barriers to creative and innovative strategic environmental management. Moxen and Strachen conclude by stating that "environmental programmes are more likely to be implemented successfully when environmental management systems are organic and support a task-based culture."
Abstract The paper maintains that there can be little doubt that a host of factors determine a nation environmentalpolicy, just as there can be no doubt that a host of factors determine a country environmental laws. With that in mind and at the risk of appearing simplistic, it may be said that environmentalpolicy is the public posture a government takes on environmental issues as well as the way in which it materially addresses environmental concerns through the allocation of resources and or through the physical regulation of industries.
Abstract This essay assesses the changes European environmentalpolicy making has undergone since the 1970s in respect of their effectiveness. First, it is shown how European environmentalpolicy making has changed in terms of its scope and legalization on a European level. The paper then shows with what instruments European institutions have tackled environmental protection.
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Legalization
2.1. Treaty of Rome
2.2. Single European Act
2.3. Treaty on European Union
3. Instruments
3.1. Moral Suasion
3.2. Regulatory Instruments
3.3. Financial Instruments
3.4. Market Instruments
3.4.1. Eco-tax
3.4.2. Eco-labels
4. Conclusion
5. References
From the Paper "In 1993 the Commission established the European Environment Agency (EEA) in Copenhagen, which succeeded the CORINE programme, an experimental data collection project, along with the European Environment Information and Observation Network. The EEA "is intended to provide the Community and the Member States with objective, reliable and comparable information at European level enabling them to take the requisite measures to protect the environment" (Dinan, 2000:171). As the EEA does not have an enforcement role of EU environmental legislation, it is hard to assess its direct impact on environmental protection."
Abstract The paper relates that environmentalpolicy is conducted in the United States through the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The paper discusses the background of the act, how it involves collaboration with communities and which agencies are involved in proposed regulations. The paper explains that these agencies have the power and authority to oversee the implementation of regulations. The paper also offers a personal comment in regard to the proposed rules.
From the Paper "The United States has a rather complicated, yet useful means of creating laws, rules, and regulations. In this sense, the legislative body which is the Congress, as well as the executive body, the Presidency is involved. However, the support of the civil society as well as that of the specialists is required. In this sense, the issue of regulations has become an increasingly complex procedure which allows the laws passed by the Congress to be implemented. From this point of view, it can be said that regulations play a key role in giving the legislative function its best use.
"The policy of the environment benefits nowadays from an increasing attention, a fact largely due to the issue of public health, as well as of the environment at large."
Abstract This paper explains that placebopolicies in environmental management are used by some government entities to mislead the government on its anti-environment agenda. The author cites specifically the Harris government in Ontario, which imposes policies that seem to be for the environment but are not, and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, which has a more effective history depending on implementation. The paper relates that placebopolicy has the effect of manipulating public opinion on the issue, reducing public input and participation in the process of making policy, and rolling back earlier environmental initiatives.
From the Paper "A number of placebo policies can be found in Ontario, such as the government's attempt at manipulating public opinion on the issue of urban smog. When a highly publicized smog patrol program was introduced, along with summer gasoline volatility limits to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by 2 per cent, analysts found that overall VOC emissions were expected to rise by 10 per cent per decade as a result of other government policies that promote urban sprawl."
Abstract There are many environmental groups which have a tremendous effect on the policy of the United States with regards to the environment. This paper explores how three of these groups, the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense, and the National Audubon Society have exerted their power to effect federal governmental policy. The paper gives the background and mission of these organizations as well as some notable accomplishments and further goes on to explore their sources of power in exerting their influence as well as the claims that they have too much undue influence over federal government policy.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Sierra Club
Environmental Defense
National Audubon Society
Influence of Environmental Groups
Conclusion
From the Paper "These are some heavy charges to be levied against the environmental groups and those who the Center for the Defense of Free enterprise feels are in concert with it. One of the reasons this group might feel this way is because groups such as the Sierra Club, Environmental defense, and the national Audubon Society have pushed for years to keep the rainforests from being cut down which hurts the interest of lumber group. They have also pushed for tougher standards for car emissions hurting the interests of car makers, and they have pushed for standards on how companies can dispose of their waste products which often costs companies millions to comply."
Tags: Sierra, Environmental, Defense, National, Audubon, Society
Abstract This paper discusses the kind of impact that globalization has on Canadian policies concerning air pollution. The paper specifically focuses on the policies concerning motor vehicle air pollution. The paper argues that Canada's tendency to follow the policy of the United States is likely to result in Canada having the same critical problem of vehicle emissions that the United States has witnessed.
Table of Contents:
Objective
The Argument Presented In This Work
Introduction
I. The United States And Canadian EnvironmentalPolicy II. Problems With Canadian Policy Related To Carbon Emissions
III. EnvironmentalPolicy Review
Summary And Conclusion
From the Paper "Sustainable transportation in Canada is being overseen by the Metropolitan Transportation Agency, created by the province of Quebec in 1996 which is a provincial agency that coordinates the planning and funding of public transportation in the Montreal region. The agency receives revenue from a dedicated gasoline tax of 1.5 cents per litre collected within the region and a vehicle license surcharge of $30 per vehicle in the region." (Paraphrased) The province of Alberta approved the funding of transportation capital in Calgary and Edmonton in 1999 that provisions of the funding of 5 cents per liter of fuels taxes that are collected in those regions. It is stated that: "Calgary and Edmonton have integrated governance structures that allow them to plan and implement sustainable transportation policies on a comprehensive basis." (Ibid)"
Abstract The paper discusses how public influence has ensured that corporations and the national government react to the environmental problems caused by industrialization. The paper explains that individuals and groups can impact the policy-making process by using their rights to access information, attend and participate in public hearings and by joining the different interest groups that pressure and lobby for their ecological and environmental concerns. The paper also relates that public pressure has caused corporations to have a corporate social responsibility which ensures that all stakeholders, including the environment, are not affected negatively by their production.
From the Paper "The rapid growth of industrialization came about because of the improvement in technology, mass production and consumption. Because of this growth in the industrial sector, environmental effects such as widespread pollution, unsustainable resource use, and environmental health problems are being experienced across the globe. Governments and corporations before have always been reactive to the ecological effects of industrialization and only make policies and legislations based on their reactions to the damaging ecological changes. Public influence has ensured that corporations and the national government react to the environmental problems caused by industrialization."
Abstract This paper shows, without discounting the force of global and European structure and mechanisms, how each member state's position in environmentalpolicy-making in the EU level is determined by its own national interests that are derived from its own domestic characteristics and conditions. It looks at how public opinion, economic structure, geographical conditions and political construction, all shape the state's case-by-case position in the EU. It shows how ideally member states would rather have its own regulation adopted as the EU-wide legislation as that will entail no adjustment costs on its part. It also examines in the environmental sector how the need to maintain competitiveness, to regain internal market access, or simply to ensure the success of a quality-of-living protection programme drives member states even further in its effort to influence the resulting EU legislation.
From the Paper "The European Union as known today originated from the need of West European countries for a regional arrangement to facilitate their economic development. The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) created by the founding Treaties of the European Communities were created as functional agencies only in charge of the coordination of national, economic strategies in designated sectors, whether they will lead to a supranational body or not. The Treaty of Rome in 1957 did not include any articles that made specific reference to the creation of an environmental policy, which originally was thought to be potentially detrimental to the economic development."
Tags: denmark, ecology, germany, greenhouse, politics, spain, uk
Abstract This paper discusses the evolution of the participatory approach in Philippine environmental governance, specifically in the forestry sector. The paper argues that power politics has been central to the practice of public administration in the Philippines and holds that public administration is often motivated by self-centered ends and not public interest. The paper concludes that participatory mechanisms are quintessential to insulate public administration from the negative impact of power politics and to provide a legitimate and counter-veiling force to fulfill its normative role.
Outline:
Introduction
Power and Institutions
Intergovernmental Relations: Bargaining and Negotiating
Forest Policies and Participation
Context and Problems
Centrality of Politics, Institutions, and Participation
Conclusion
From the Paper "Even as Philippine decentralization is much younger than the American federal experience, it has much to learn from it in terms of intergovernmental collaboration specifically implementation mechanism between the national line agencies and the local government units, which has yet to demonstrate good practices. In the area of environmental governance for example, much of "open access" forestlands in the Philippines have been jurisdictionally devolved to local government units from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources by way of Republic Act 7160, other wise known as the Local Government Code and implementing mechanism under DAO 30:1990, and except for declared protected areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). This poses both a problem and an opportunity here depending upon the action that government takes and other stakeholders to make the existing mechanism of environmental governance work. Thus, recent focus of ECOGOV2, a USAID funded project seeks to intervene into providing a collaborative framework among government, citizens, civil society, and private sector into closing open-access areas through some form viable instruments. Using the lens and focus of institutionalism, power and intergovernmental collaboration, Philippine forest policies and environmental experience shall be explored and analyzed verifying assertions earlier made. It becomes crucial then to verify the present context of the problem, and see how institutionalized power and political interest have shaped forest policies in the Philippines and explain how power is at play in institutions and may be the problem as it they can be solutions. Participation and reality of intergovernmental relations between the national and local government is also core to understanding and making things work in the protection and conservation of Philippine forests and biodiversity."
Abstract The paper discusses the global warming debate and asserts that the political power and decision making of President George Bush has been a contributing factor to this environmental problem. The paper discusses the Kyoto treaty and how Bush will not ratify it because he believes it may harm the U.S. economy. The paper contends that global warming is a genuine issue that needs the help of politicians to counter its negative effects. The paper concludes that until the current administration creates more far reaching environmentalpolicies that would reduce global warming, we can only act on a personal level.
From the Paper ""Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation." As the Earth's temperature rises we see that the ice caps melt, ecosystems are lost and patterns of agriculture are altered. One of the main causes of global warming could be attributed to the increased human production of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gasses are what are causing the earth to retain more heat. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human activity has been directly responsible for increases in atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide since 1750. Climate changes will continue to be a huge problem as the world industrializes, human population continues to grow and with it our consumption of fossil fuels such as oil and coal."
Abstract This paper discusses the differences between moral and legal rights. Legal rights are created by conventional authorities, but moral rights are non-conventional, as they are discovered rather than created. The author defines "species-ism" as putting the interest of your own species in front of the interest of other species and claims species-ism is unjust because we must treat every being the same way. The paper concludes that all of these metaphysics may seem to be a lot of talk and no action; however, from talk comes awareness and ideas and sharing them with members of the community is the only way that we can make real changes to benefit our environmentalpolicy.
From the Paper "In natural extinctions, nature takes away life when it has become unfit as Darwin would put it, or when the habitat alters, and supplies other life in its place. When artificial extinction takes place, it shuts down tomorrow because it shuts down speciation. The chief cause of artificial extinction of recent times is humans through encroachment, habitat destruction as well as many other factors caused by humans and when this happens nothing gets replaced. When natural extinction occurs, a species may be lost but this should not be viewed as a bad things because the species that is lost is replaced by another species."
