Chapter 21 Environmental Policy. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1.Why have environmental issues become so important in American politics.

Chapter 21Chapter 21Environmental Environmental

PolicyPolicy

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?1.1. Why have environmental issues become Why have environmental issues become

so important in American politics and so important in American politics and policymaking?policymaking?

2.2. Does the public get the environmental Does the public get the environmental laws it wants?laws it wants?

TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?1.1. If we wish to have cleaner air and water, If we wish to have cleaner air and water,

how far should we go in making them how far should we go in making them cleaner when the cost of each additional cleaner when the cost of each additional gain goes up?gain goes up?

2.2. What is the best way for the government What is the best way for the government to achieve an environmental goal: by to achieve an environmental goal: by issuing orders or offering incentives?issuing orders or offering incentives?

Warm-upWarm-up

What would you do page 558What would you do page 558


M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M

To: To: Senator Diane GraySenator Diane Gray

From: From: Keith Mays, legislative assistantKeith Mays, legislative assistant

Until recently, you could get a tax cut if you bought aUntil recently, you could get a tax cut if you bought a

hybrid car. But it was only available for the first 60,000hybrid car. But it was only available for the first 60,000

cars built by any manufacturer.cars built by any manufacturer.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for incentives:Arguments for incentives:

1. We need to reduce gasoline consumption and our dependence on 1. We need to reduce gasoline consumption and our dependence on foreign oil.foreign oil.

2. Hybrid cars consume much less gasoline.2. Hybrid cars consume much less gasoline.

3. A tax break to buyers of hybrid vehicles that rely on both electric 3. A tax break to buyers of hybrid vehicles that rely on both electric and gasoline engines will provide a stable market that will and gasoline engines will provide a stable market that will encourage sales.encourage sales.



Arguments against incentives:Arguments against incentives:

1. We can more easily cut fuel consumption by raising taxes on 1. We can more easily cut fuel consumption by raising taxes on gasoline.gasoline.

2. Many hybrids get worse gas mileage than several conventional 2. Many hybrids get worse gas mileage than several conventional cars.cars.

3. The past tax breaks, with the 60,000 car cap, were essentially a 3. The past tax breaks, with the 60,000 car cap, were essentially a support for domestic car builders who were being beaten in the support for domestic car builders who were being beaten in the market by Japanese producers.market by Japanese producers.



Your decision:Your decision:

Support?Support?

Oppose?Oppose?



The American ContextThe American Context

1=much more adversarial than in 1=much more adversarial than in most European Nations (environment most European Nations (environment vs economics)vs economics)

2=policy depends on states 2=policy depends on states (mandates by Washington DC, (mandates by Washington DC, implemented by States (sewage implemented by States (sewage plants)plants)


The American ContextThe American Context

Entrepreneurial PoliticsEntrepreneurial Politics• Pollution from stationary sourcesPollution from stationary sources• Many hope to benefit from rules impose Many hope to benefit from rules impose

costs on a few firmscosts on a few firms


The fight over climate change pits people who use coal with those who oppose burning it. Source: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images


Majoritarian PoliticsMajoritarian Politics• Pollution from automobiles=many hope Pollution from automobiles=many hope

to benefit/many pay the coststo benefit/many pay the costs


Auto makers are bringing out Auto makers are bringing out more hybrid cars that use less more hybrid cars that use less gasoline. gasoline. Source: Raymond Forbes/MasterfileSource: Raymond Forbes/Masterfile

Highway congestion in California Highway congestion in California gets worse and uses up a lot of gets worse and uses up a lot of fuel. fuel. Source: Hendrik Holler/PhotoLibrarySource: Hendrik Holler/PhotoLibrary

Interest group politicsInterest group politics

Acid rain=regions hurt by acid rain Acid rain=regions hurt by acid rain (mainly NE) argue with regions that (mainly NE) argue with regions that produce a lot (Midwest) fight over produce a lot (Midwest) fight over who pays/responsiblewho pays/responsible


Acid RainAcid Rain

Created by high sulfur producing Created by high sulfur producing factoriesfactories

Congress voted for scrubbers in all Congress voted for scrubbers in all factoriesfactories

1. created jobs for miners, 2 1. created jobs for miners, 2 environmentalists liked scrubbers, 3 environmentalists liked scrubbers, 3 scrubber manufacturers liked it, 4 scrubber manufacturers liked it, 4 expensive to factories will stay put expensive to factories will stay put and not moveand not move



Client PoliticsClient Politics• Agricultural pesticides=farmers manage to Agricultural pesticides=farmers manage to

minimize federal control over the use of pesticidesminimize federal control over the use of pesticides


Environmentalists have used the protection of endangered species, such as the spotted owl, as a way of reducing timber harvests. p. 564 Source: William Campbell/ Corbis

Pesticides help Pesticides help grow better crops,grow better crops,but some worry but some worry they may harm thethey may harm theenvironment. p. environment. p. 564 Source: Jack 564 Source: Jack Clark/ The Image Clark/ The Image WorksWorks

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Causes (fossil Fuels)Causes (fossil Fuels) Earth Day 4/22Earth Day 4/22 EPA Created 1970=Clean Air Act, EPA Created 1970=Clean Air Act,

Water Quality Improvement Act, Water Quality Improvement Act, Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act



3 difficult questions3 difficult questions 1=how much greenhouse gas causes 1=how much greenhouse gas causes

earth’s temperature to rise?earth’s temperature to rise? 2=what would it cost in lost 2=what would it cost in lost

productivity and income to reduce?productivity and income to reduce? 3=how large would the gains to 3=how large would the gains to

humankind, and when would they humankind, and when would they occur?occur?



Liberals=raise money with scary Liberals=raise money with scary statements about harm global statements about harm global warming will causewarming will cause

Conservatives=raise money with Conservatives=raise money with scary statements about the scary statements about the economic pain the cut in greenhouse economic pain the cut in greenhouse gases will causegases will cause


Majoritarian politics when Majoritarian politics when people believe the costs are people believe the costs are

lowlow Environmental impact Environmental impact

statement=must be written before statement=must be written before federal agency undertakes an federal agency undertakes an activity that will “significantly” affect activity that will “significantly” affect the quality of the human the quality of the human environmentenvironment


Majoritarian politics when Majoritarian politics when people believe the costs are people believe the costs are

highhigh ex=gasoline tax ex=gasoline tax Helps environment not good enoughHelps environment not good enough Need to give concrete things to Need to give concrete things to

people=more highways, buses, people=more highways, buses, reduce federal deficit, etc.reduce federal deficit, etc.


What is the problem?What is the problem? What Are the Costs and Benefits?What Are the Costs and Benefits? What Are Our Goals?What Are Our Goals? How Do We Achieve Our Goals?How Do We Achieve Our Goals? Cap and TradeCap and Trade


The Environmental UncertaintiesThe Environmental Uncertainties

Some ideasSome ideas

Offsets=if a company wants to open Offsets=if a company wants to open a new plant in an area with polluted a new plant in an area with polluted air, it can do so if the pollution it air, it can do so if the pollution it generates is offset by a reduction in generates is offset by a reduction in pollution from another source in that pollution from another source in that areaarea


IdeasIdeas

Bubble standard=total amount of air Bubble standard=total amount of air pollution that can come from a given pollution that can come from a given factory (company is free to decide factory (company is free to decide how to reduce emissions)how to reduce emissions)


ideasideas

Pollution allowances or banks=if a Pollution allowances or banks=if a company reduces more than what is company reduces more than what is required by law, it can either use this required by law, it can either use this excess to cover future plant excess to cover future plant expansion or sell it to another expansion or sell it to another companycompany


Cap and tradeCap and trade

Was a bill trying to be passed in Was a bill trying to be passed in 2009 by HR (R ), Idea that emissions 2009 by HR (R ), Idea that emissions allowed imposed by these caps allowed imposed by these caps would decline as the years passed, would decline as the years passed, firms that produced less emissions firms that produced less emissions could sell remaindercould sell remainder

Liberals argued businesses are Liberals argued businesses are paying to pollutepaying to pollute

Did not passDid not passCopyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

ResultsResults

Environment has been better since Environment has been better since 19701970

Less Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxideLess Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide Trying to clean up hazardous waste Trying to clean up hazardous waste

sites, reduce pesticide usesites, reduce pesticide use Typically, politicians want to be pro-Typically, politicians want to be pro-

environment without environment without enforcing/imposing regulations that enforcing/imposing regulations that would cost a lot to the people would cost a lot to the people


Chapter 21 Environmental Policy. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1.Why have environmental issues become so important in American politics.

Documents

hybrid cars

gasoline consumption

gasoline engines

cengagethe fight

environmental issues

environmental policycopyright

environmental laws

environmental goal