INTRODUCTION: ENVS 101, Fall 2008

 

Withgott and Brennan, Chapters 1 and 2.  All except section on Nature of Science (p10-15).

 

Objectives:  Students should be able to

  1. discuss how changes in how humans exist over time have impacted the environment in general
  2. discuss the impacts of limited resources, ethics and economics on environmental policies
  3. describe the differences between anthropocentric, biocentric and ecocentric view points
  4. describe the three phases of the environmental movement in the United States
  5. discuss the differences between conservation and preservation
  6. describe what drives environmental policy development
  7. discuss different methods for enforcement of environmental policies
  8. discuss issues faced by Tijuana and San Diego
  9. discuss problems of Easter Island

 

 

HUMANS ARE NOT SEPARATE FROM THE ENVIRONMENT

 

    CHANGES IN NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON EARTH AND THEIR ACTIVITIES:

    Hunter gatherers, Agricultural revolution, Industrial revolution

    Population prediction:  Thomas Malthus, Paul Ehrlich

 

    LIMITED RESOURCES: Tragedy of the Commons (Garrett Hardin), ecological footprints, sustainability, Easter Island example

 

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES:

    SCIENTIFIC ANALYSES

 

    ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Anthropocentrism vs. Biocentrism vs. Ecocentrism

Preservation (John Muir) vs. conservation (Gifford Pinchot)

Environmental justice movement: poor people bear huge burden

    ECONOMICS

Subsistence vs. capitalism vs. centrally planned economies

Cost-benefit analyses including price of ecological services

Sustainability

Eco-labeling

    POLITICAL SCIENCE: policies and politics

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES:  general plans an principles to address problems and guide decision

 

    POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Emerges from scientific studies, economics, ethics and a problem solving approach

Problems - find cause - find solution, organize, gain access to policymakers

United States’ process: 

            Laws are established by Congress and President

            Administrative agency establishes regulations and must monitor compliance

            Similar structure at state level

 

    POLICY ENFORCEMENT

            Command and control

            Economic incentives such as tax breaks, subsidies, cap and trade, local incentives

            US balance of power:  legislative branch, executive branch, judicial branch; states also powerful

 

    PHASES OF US ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

   

        LAND MANAGEMENT LAWS:   1780s – late 1800s

            Encouraged settlement of western lands

            Encouraged resource extraction

            Homestead Act of 1862

            Mineral Lands Act of 1866

            Timber Culture Act of 1873

 

        PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION:  late 1800s - now

            Reduce and correct some of problems associated with westward expansion

            First National Park (1872, Yellowstone)

            Forest Reserve Act of 1891:  president can create forest reserves from public lands

            Soil conservation laws during Dust Bowl years of the 1930s

Wilderness Act of 1964: preserve still pristine lands

 

        POLLUTION PROBLEMS BECOME FOCUS:  mid-late 20th century

            Silent Spring

            Burning of Cuyahoga River

            National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 1970) leads to creation of the EPA (1970)

     

I    NTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

            AGENCIES:  United Nations, The World Bank, European Union, World Trade Organization,

                                  Nongovernmental organizations

            DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN US POLICIES