Презентация на тему Environmental law

environment was severely degraded.
The need for regulation was seen

necessary after the tort law failed to protect the environment.
Tragedy of the commons: Freedom in the commons brings ruin to all.
Free Rider: A profiting polluter and everyone else pays to clean the environment.

ecosystem, with knowledge and power.
It is our ethical obligation

to consider the long-term impact of our behavior.

to stop pollution, why?
Subsidies, Emissions charges, and marketable emissions

permits: Hard to implement.
Green Taxes: Effective, a tax on polluting behavior, adopted by the European Union.
Direct Regulation: Effective, adopted by the US after 1970.

scientific knowledge and the development of sophisticated detection instruments.

These instruments are able to detect the presence of a pollutant in parts per billion.
Cataclysmic events like the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbra, CA.
Public pressure.

awareness:
1. Silent Spring; by Rachel Carson.
2. The Population Bomb;

by Paul Ehrlich.
The Closing Circle; by Barry Commoners.

passage of the National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA.
The passage

of 27 laws designed to protect the environment.

deregulation.
Cutting EPA personnel by 20%, and EPA budget by

more than 33%
Much of the administrative burden associated with environmental policy was shifted to the states.
Decimated CEQ by drastic cuts in its budget.
At the end of the decade, congress faced public pressure to oppose Reagan’s environmental policies.
Voluntary Programs: ISO 14000.

courts were dominated by Reagan’s conservative appointees.
Greater use market

forces, make the polluter pay.
1994 House of Representatives were committed to weaken environmental regulations.
Clinton maintained that he would veto any bill that would undermine existing environmental protection.

end of 1995.
A Republican pollster disclosed that only 35%

of the public would vote to reelect congressmen who voted to cut EPA funding.
President Clinton enacted a series of environmental regulations through executive order.

agencies to suspend implementation of Clinton’s environmental executive orders.
Bush’s

and his appointees Gale Norton, Christine Whitman, Spencer Abraham, and others are committed to weaken environmental regulations.
More than 80% of the public oppose drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

on Environmental Quality, CEQ; the federal watchdog.
Requires federal agencies

to take environmental consequences into account when making certain decisions.
Requires an Environmental Impact Statement, EIS, for every major legislative proposal or action having a significant impact on the environment.

chair, and staff to serve them.
Advise the president about

environmental matters.
Gathers data, and publishes the President’s Annual Report on Environmental Quality, a public report.

finds ways to prevent the creation of pollution at

the source.
1993; Clinton issued executive order to improve pollution prevention in the federal government.
The PPA was very effective, and saved producers money by source reduction and better engineering designs.

Auto and Smokestacks Emissions, it significantly improved air quality.
The

major air pollutants are:
1. Sulfur Dioxide SO2; sources are volcanic emissions, and the burning of high-sulfur containing coal. It is highly corrosive and can damage the respiratory tract
2. Nitrogen Oxides; sources are lightning, decomposing organics, and auto and industrial emissions. It can damage the respiratory tract and deplete the ozone layer

natural and also from incomplete burning of fossil fuels,

mainly auto emissions, it contributes to the global warming and to the formation of ozone at low altitudes
4. Ozone; Is the primary ingredient of smog, causes eye irritation, nasal congestion, asthma, damage to lung and immune system. (The Ozone layer is ozone at high altitude and protects life by blocking ultraviolet radiation)

soil erosion, pollen, volcanoes. Human made sources include diesel

engines emissions, cement manufacturing, road construction, wood-burning stoves, etc. Particulates finer than 10 micrometers may not be filtered from the lungs, some particulates are carcinogenic, some are irritants

gasoline which was phased out in early 1970’s, metal

processing is now the major source. Lead harms the neurological system and kidneys, may also cause seizures and mental retardation

are currently, or will be, regulated after the passage

of 1990 Clean Air Act amendments. Sources include chemical plants, plastics manufacturing and burning, oil refineries, etc. They can be toxic or carcinogenic

and NOx emissions. SO2 and NOx gases can be

carried in the atmosphere.
Lakes on alkaline foundations like limestone will buffer the harm of acid rain, lakes on granite foundations will not buffer the acidity, and aquatic life may die

primary cause is the use of chlorofluorocarbons, in refrigeration

and air conditioning. The Ozone layer blocks most of the UV rays, which are harmful to all living organisms including humans

think it would be devastating if the trend continues.

Effects can be a rise in sea levels, increasing frequency of severe hurricanes, floods, and droughts, and the extinction of plant and animal species. We already witnessed some effects

Protocol: An attempt by the global community to reduce

greenhouse emissions by 2012 to 5.2% below 1990 level
The protocol can not be enforced without the ratification of developed countries
In 2001, president Bush pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol

affect human health
Source may come from outside air pollution,

or from inside from building materials, insecticides, solvents, Radon, etc.

in the 1880’s
Clean Air Act of 1963 did not

mandate standards or define air pollution
1967 Air Quality Act; created 10 regions within which pollution could be regulated, was ineffective
The 1970 Clean Air Act was a success