Global Environment Policy ─ Concepts, Principles, and Practice

Environmental policy is often practiced reactively with each crisis addressed as an isolated event. Focusing on development of proactive policies, Global Environment Policy: Concepts, Principles, and Practice provides the essential scientific and socioeconomic framework for formulating pragmatic and comprehensive environmental policies. It discusses topics of interest to American and international audiences.
Beginning with basic concepts, the book proceeds successively on to more advanced principles, theories, and practices for developing and implementing comprehensive environmental policy solutions. Topics are introduced in a logical, yet connected, user-friendly manner. Using practical case studies and examples, the book illustrates both the power and limitations of theoretical approaches. It defines the scope and nature of the environmental policy problem, outlining its origins and evolution, and introduces the policy frameworks of the United Nations, European Union, and the United States.
Each chapter begins with a case study and ends with a problem set; the questions are designed to elicit practical and critical thinking. The book ends with two capstone problems that exemplify nearly every major topic and aspect presented in this book. Upon completion, students should possess the competency required to examine a real world problem, evaluate it in terms of the concepts, principles, and tools described throughout the book, and develop a practical policy solution for resolving that problem.

Charles H. Eccleston, CEP has over 20 years experience in developing environmental and energy-related policies and analyses. He prepares Environmental Impact Statements to evaluate impacts of projects and policies.

Introduction to Global Environmental Concepts and PrinciplesThe Historical Context of the Environmental MovementCase studyLearning ObjectivesOrigins of the Environmental MovementHistorical Development of National Environmental Policy ActDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesConcepts and Principles Underlying Environmental PolicyCase StudyLearning ObjectivesIntroductionPart 1: Challenges to the Global EnvironmentThe Tragedy of the CommonsLimits to GrowthThe Gaia PrinciplePart 2: Challenges to Environmental PolicyInterdependence of Environmental and Energy PoliciesPollution and Its Environmental ImpactsPart 3: Additional Policy Principles and PracticesSelected Principles of International Policy and LawPolicy Formulation Process and Its PromulgationMethodology Aspects of Policy FormulationDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesClass ProjectNotesSustainability and Environmental PolicyCase StudyCoal Saves the Industrial RevolutionLearning ObjectivesDefinitions of SustainabilityImpact, Population, Affluence, and Technology EquationThe United Nations’ Sustainability Policy: Agenda 21Common Principles of SustainabilityTheory of Sustainable Population GrowthMeasuring Sustainable DevelopmentEcological ModernizationApplications of the Sustainable Resource Development PrincipleExamples of a Sustainable Energy PolicyConclusionDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesEnvironmental Policy Treaties and Their ImplementationCase StudyLearning ObjectivesThe Framework for International Environmental Treaties and ProgramsAgenda 21: Principles of Global Environmental PoliciesInternational Law as Environmental Policy InstrumentMajor Environmental TreatiesAgenda 21: Strategic Implementation ProgramPrograms that Implement Global Environmental StrategyDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesSustainability, Environmental Impact Assessment, and Decision MakingEnvironmental Impact AssessmentCase StudyLearning ObjectivesHow the National Environmental Policy Act’s Environmental Impact Assessment Process has Influenced International PpolicyStatus of Environmental Impact Assessment LegislationThe Typical Environmental Impact Assessment ProcessProgrammatic and Strategic Environmental AssessmentsChallenges and LimitationsMathematical ModelingDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesEnvironmental Decision-Making Theory and PracticeCase StudyLearning ObjectivesIntroductionBiases and MindsetsPublic Opinion and Risk CommunicationsPolicy and Decision-Making ToolsEnvironmental Decision Making and ChoicesCognitive Dissonance and Effort JustificationGroupthinkThe Power and Limits of Collective IntelligenceUncertainty in Decision MakingDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesEnvironmental Management SystemsCase StudyLearning ObjectivesInternational Organization for StandardizationThe ISO 14000 Series of StandardsThe ISO 14001 Environmental Management System ProcessISO 14001 Certification Versus Self-DeclarationThe Complementary Benefits of Integrating Sustainability with a Consolidated NEPA/ISO 14001 EMSDeveloping an Integrated EIA/EMS/Sustainable Development ProcessSummaryDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesEnvironmental Ethics and EconomicsEnvironmental EthicsCase StudyLearning ObjectivesCan, May, and Should We?Judeo-Christian Ethics and EcologyThe Sustainability MovementThe Ethical Dimensions of CopingPolicy Options for Reducing the Environmental FootprintProblemsNotesEnvironmental EconomicsCase StudyLearning ObjectivesIntroductionElementary Economic Marketplace and Investment TheoryExternalitiesCost-Benefit AnalysisEconomic Principles Important to Environmental PolicyEnvironmental-Economic Metrics and EffectsNon-Market-Based Policies for Environmental ManagementMarket Policies for Environmental ManagementAn Interim Energy Policy?Discussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesCritical Global Environmental IssuesThe Coming Water WarsCase StudyLearning ObjectivesIntroductionIs the Glass Half full or Half Empty?It is Bad, and About to Get Much WorseWars and Rumors of WarCan We Feed Ourselves?The Water Runs DirtyDammed If They Do!Will Technology Come to the Rescue?Discussions, Problems, and ExercisesClass ProblemNotesPeak Oil, Alternatives, and Energy Policy: The Looming World Oil CrisisCase StudyLearning ObjectivesIntroductionHubbert’s PredictionGrowing Oil Consumption and Lowering of Exports by ProducersPeak Oil Policy ImplicationsConcluding ThoughtsDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesClass ProjectNotesPeak Food or Peak Everything: An Era of Bounty or Begging?Case study: The Dirty ThirtiesLearning ObjectivesIntroductionThe Global Grocery StoreThe Green Revolution“Peak everything"?The Bottom BillionFood Policy PerspectivesConcluding ThoughtsDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesGlobal Climate ChangeCase StudyLearning ObjectivesIntroduction: The Nature of the ProblemGlobal Warming Causal Factors and ResearchCurrent and Future Impacts of Global WarmingReducing Greenhouse EmissionsGlobal Climate PolicyDiscussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesThe Global Population Paradox: A Population Explosion or Implosion?Case study: St. Matthew IslandLearning ObjectivesThe Scientific Basis for Population GrowthThe Nature of the Population ProblemPopulation and the EnvironmentThe Scope of Global Population PolicyThe Population Paradox: A Simmering Socioeconomic Crisis?Discussions, Problems, and ExercisesNotesEpilogue: Acting Locally—The Six Degrees of SeparationCapstone ProblemsCapstone problem 1: Economic and Environmental DevelopmentCapstone problem 2: The Global Policy ProblemNotesIndex