Social Norms

Equity

Environmental Justice

Imperfect Information

Externalities

Public Goods

Common-Pool Resource

Evidence of a problem

Available policies to deal with the problem

Political willingness to act

Pre-1970: Limited federal involvement

1970s: Major federal initiatives

1990s-present: More complex relationships, changing priorities

Need for Policy

Market Failures

Social Norms/Goods

Market Failures:

Externalities

Public goods-nonrival and nonexclusive

Lack of information

Common property resources

Social norms/goods:

Equity-progressive vs. regressive policies

Social norms

Environmental justice

A resource that is available to some if not all of the public

Using the resoruce will take away from someone else

"cattle example"-Hardin

Hardin: Fierce intervention is needed because people have the freedom to breed "Freedom in the commons brings ruin to all"

Ostrom: Too much government involvement can ruin a system that was working "Tragedy of the commons is real, but not inevitable"

Command and control (direct regulation)

Tradable permits (cap and trade)

Taxes and subsidies

Information/educational campaigns

Voluntary agreements
Status quo 

Individuals

Interest groups

Think tanks

Research organizations

Non-governmental organizations

Communications media

Labeling standards on food products: "certified organic", "fair trade", "no preservatives"

Energy STAR label

Country of Origin labeling

33/50 program with EPA:

Using a baseline in 1988, the goal was to reduce emissions by 33% by 1992, and then 50% by 1994

Define the Problem

Establish Evaluative Criteria

Identify Alternative Policies

Evaluate Alternative Policies

Display and Select Among Alternatives

Implementation

Monitor and Evaluate Outcomes

Need to consider all policy alternatives

Need to include "status quo" or "no-action" alternative"

All criteria that will be considered

Growing populations in arid regions

Over-appropriated water resources/need for policy change

Uncertainty about future availability

Improved understanding of ecological results of water diversions

Requires NRDs and the DNR to be more proactive in anticipating water conflicts

Addressses how to better manage and reduce use in over/fully appropriated areas

Requires the designation of hydrologically connected water

Time (season)

Location (Phoenix v. Atlanta)

Quality (urban v. rural)

Use: travel cost, how much more money woudl people be willing to spend if there was more water in the lake?

Non-use values: How many people are willing to pay to improve fish habitat by increasing stream flow?

Run-off sediment affects water quality

Dust storms

Removal of productive top soil

Land expansion left little vegetation

Soil was exposed

1930s drought reduced soil moisture

Implemented as a result of the Dust Bowl

Planted about 18,600 miles of shelterbelts

Trees were able to control winds

Extra vegetation helped hold down the soil

Water quality

Ground and surface water conservation

Air quality

Soil erosion and sedimentation reduction

Wildlife habitat for at-risk species

Why was there a Clean Water Quality Act in 1972?

What were some of the results?

40% of waterways are not up to federal standards

Difference between nonpoint sources and point sources

Greater federal role (setting standards, EPA permits)

"to restore the integrity of the Nation's waters"

"fishable and swimmable waters"

"zero discharge of pollutants"

"eliminate the release of toxics in toxic amounts"

Organic pollutants

-consume oxygen in water

-lead to reduced dissolved oxygen and higher biological oxygen demand

-reduce ability to support aquatic life

Can be linked to a single facility: paper mill, waste treatment plant

Permit required under CWA

Run-off from a field or open land area

Cannot be linked to a single land owner

Not regulated under CWA

Generally managed with voluntary subsidy programs

Protects all species and the ecosystems they depend on

Listed by individual or organizational request

Limited space to hold all species

How to choose which species to tend to?

-most valuable/highest social benefits

-most at-risk

-most diverse

Agencies have a limited budget for conservation programs

Money should be spent so that it provides the most environmental benefit possible

Development of property rights

Taxes on unsustainable forest products

Government monitoring

Land reform

Incentives to use more sustainable agricultural practices

Increased recycling or reduced demand for wood products

Debt-for-nature agreements

Tradable carbon dioxide permits

Bio-prospecting fees

Ecotourism

Watershed charges

World Bank Ecomarkets program

Criteria for climate policy evaltuation

Environmental outcome

Cost effectiveness

Distributional equity

Flexibility

Participation and compliance