Politics of Pollution

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Politics of Pollution
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Politics and Belief Systems

• Politicians depend on learning voters belief
  systems and making sure that their publically
  stated stances match the belief systems of the
  majority of the voters.
• If there is not a match, then the politicians
  depend on a perceived match.

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Test your belief systems by answering true or
false

1. We can solve current environmental problems.
2. Environmental problems are beyond solution.
3. We can solve current env. problems but will
   select not to do so.
4. The environment is a mess.
5. The environment is getting worse.
6. The environment is getting better.
7. There are no leaders of the environmental effort.
8. I would quit driving a car today if I believed it
   would really help clean the environment.

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Test your belief systems

• 9. The environment 30 years from now will be much
  improved.
• 10. Progress and a healthy environment are
  incompatible.
• 11. Rapid technological change is to blame for
  the environmental mess.
• Technology is the solution to the environmental
  problems
• People are the solution to environmental problems
• Continued rapid population growth dooms the
  environment.

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Test your belief systems

1. The survival of mankind is at stake during the
   next 50 years.
2. The survival of life on the planet is at stake
   over the next 50 years.
3. Many of our current environmental solutions will
   only cause other environmental problems.
4. If people understood the real environmental costs
   of their actions, they would change.
5. I believe we should be able to solve
   environmental problems without having to give up
   any aspect of our current lifestyle.
6. The environment exists to serve humankinds needs.

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Optimist or Pessimist?

• Optimist questions are
• True to numbers 1,6,8,9,12,13,18
• Pessimist questions are
• True to numbers 2,3,4,5,7,10,11,15,16,17
• Development ethic questions are
• True to numbers 14,19,20

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How would a politician rank and then address the
members of this class?
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What has been accomplished by environmental
policies?

• Set standards for limits of emissions on
  pollutants, e.g. Water Pollution Control Act,
  Clean Air Acts
• Check safety of new substances, e.g. Toxic
  Substances Control Act
• Requires use of Environmental Impact Statements
  before an activity is started
• Protected various ecosystems and species,
  Wilderness Act, Endangered Species Act
• Encourage resource conservation (changes in tax
  structure, etc.)

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Ozone Depletion

• The ozone depletion in Antarctic, Arctic and mid
  latitudes is continuing, due to past emissions of
  CFCs. It will peak in the next few years.
• Given full Implementation of the Montreal
  Protocol by all countries, the Ozone Layer will
  recover by the middle of the 21st century.

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The Multilateral Fund

• The Multilateral Fund of the Protocol has been
  very successful. It has so far disbursed over
  768 million to more than 100 developing countries
  to phase out more than half of their CFC
  consumption. It will continue assistance till the
  phase out is completed.

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Lessons of the Montreal Protocol

• Precautionary principle, signals to industries,
  integration of science with policy, recognition
  of the special situation of the developing
  countries, common but differentiated
  responsibility, flexibility to take into account
  scientific and technological developments over
  time.

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Countries that have Not Ratified the Montreal
Protocol

• Albania
• Armenia
• Angola
• Cape Verde
• Djibouti
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Rwanda
• Sao Tome Principe
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia

• Haiti
• Andorra
• San Marino
• Afghanistan
• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• Iraq
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Lao (PDR)
• Oman
• Palau

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Environmental Impact Statements

1. Describe purpose and need for act
2. Describe probable environmental impacts of act
3. Describe any adverse impacts that cant be
   avoided
4. What alternatives to act exist (including not
   doing it)
5. Short-term and long-term effects on environment
6. Discuss any irreversible uses of resources
7. EIS preliminary draft reviewers comments
8. List names qualifications of preparers

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Criticisms of EISs

• Too much detail on insignificant points
• Prepared to justify decision already made, not to
  look at alternatives
• Prepared without adequate scientific data
• Voluminous documents can hide serious problems

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According to the late Tip ONeil

• All politics are local
• So,.

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What can you do?

• Environmental organizations act to amplify your
  voice. Examine the options available, pick an
  organization that most closely matches your
  personality and concerns and join it!
• Write to your congressional representatives or
  senators! Congress assumes that for every person
  who sends a letter, 15 more out there feel the
  same way for everyone who calls, 25 more feel
  that way for everyone who visits, 200 more feel
  that way! Your letter does count!

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What can you do?

• Avoid confrontation style politics and make sure
  you have your facts straight. Understand the
  other partys frame of reference and ethics. Work
  for a win-win situation whenever possible.
• Lobby and work for world and regional peace.