Environmental Policy and Politics

Covering global threats such as climate change, population growth, and loss of biodiversity, as well as national, state, and local problems of environmental pollution, energy use, and natural resource use and conservation, this exciting and unique text covers U.S. policy-making processes, the legislative and administrative settings for policy decisions, the role of interest groups and public opinion in environmental politics, and the public policies that result.   Offering a succinct overview and assessment of U.S. environmental policy and politics, Kraft encourages students to judge environmental problems and policy actions for themselves by summarizing extensive collections of scientific studies, government reports, and policy analyses to convey the nature of environmental problems, progress and limitations in dealing with them, and the implications of keeping or revising present policies.

Table of Contents:
Preface   Chapter 1: Environmental Problems and Politics Environmental Policy and Politics          Perspectives on Environmental Problems           Scientific Knowledge and Its Use Economics and Incentives  Environmental Values and Ethics  The Role of Government and Politics     Democracy, Politics, and Environmental Policy  Defining Environmental Policy   Policy Typologies  The Breadth of Environmental Policy  Environmental Problems and Public Policy         Defining the Problems: The Nature of Environmental Risks  Coping with Environmental Risks  Public Policy Responses           Conclusions      Discussion Questions    Suggested Readings      Endnotes            Chapter 2: Judging the State of the Environment Air Quality        Gains in Air Quality and Remaining Problems  Indoor Air Quality  Acid Precipitation  CFCs and the Stratospheric Ozone Layer  Water Quality   Pollution of Surface Waters  Drinking Water Quality  Toxic Chemicals and Hazardous Wastes           Toxic Chemicals and Health Effects  Hazardous Wastes  Contaminated Federal Facilities  Radioactive Wastes  Solid Waste and Consumer Waste        Energy Use and Climate Change           The Nature of Energy Problems  Fossil Fuels and the Threat of Climate Change  Biological Diversity and Habitat Loss    Biodiversity Loss and Implications  Policy Actions and Effects  Population Growth        Population and Sustainable Development  Growth Rates and Projected Population Increases  Conclusions      Discussion Questions    Suggested Readings      Endnotes   Chapter 3: Making Environmental Policy Understanding Environmental Politics    The Policy Process Model        Agenda Setting  Policy Formulation  Policy Legitimation  Policy Implementation  Policy and Program Evaluation  Policy Change  Patterns in Environmental Policymaking Characteristics of U.S. Government and Politics            Constitutional and Political Features  Institutional Fragmentation and Policy Stalemate  The Benefits of Dispersed Power  Conclusions      Discussion Questions    Suggested Readings      Endnotes   Chapter 4: The Evolution of Environmental Policy and Politics Natural Resources and Environmental Policies in Historical Perspective  The Settlement and “Conquest” of Nature  The Conservation Movement and Advances in Public Health  From the New Deal to the Environmental Movement  The Modern Environmental Movement and Policy Achievements           Environmental Interest Groups  Public Opinion and the Environment  Environmental Issues in Election Campaigns Political Reaction to Environmentalism   Environmental Policy in the Reagan and Bush Administrations  Clinton and Gore Reform Environmental Policy and Battle Congress  George W. Bush and the Environment  Conclusions      Discussion Questions    Suggested Readings      Endnotes   Chapter 5: Environmental Protection Policy: Controlling Pollution The Contours of Environmental Protection Policy The Clean Air Act  The Clean Water Act  The Safe Drinking Water Act  The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act  The Toxic Substances Control Act  The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act  The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act  The Institutional Context of Policy Implementation The EPA’s Organization, Budget, and Staff  Working with the States  Political Support and Opposition  Setting Environmental Standards           Environmental Goals and Objectives  Environmental Quality Criteria  Setting Quality Standards  Emissions Standards  Balancing Statutory Goals and Costs     Adopting and Enforcing Regulations      Administrative Rule Making  Enforcement and Compliance  White House Oversight  Conclusions      Discussion Questions    Suggested Readings      Endnotes   Chapter 6: Energy and Natural Resource Policies Energy Policy: Goals and Means           Indirect Policy Impacts  Shifting Energy Priorities  The Energy Policy Cycle: 1973—1989   Carter’s National Energy Plan and Conservation Gains  Reagan’s Nonpolicy on Energy  Energy Policy for the Twenty-First Century       The Bush Administration’s National Energy Strategy  The Clinton Administration Tries Its Hand  Energy Policy Under George W. Bush  State and Local Energy Initiatives  Natural Resources and Policy Change   Environmental Stewardship or Economic Development?  The Environmentalist Challenge to Resource Development  Natural Resource Policies and Agencies  Managing the Nation’s Forests  Battles over Wilderness  Governing the Range  BLM Lands and the Sagebrush Rebellion  Other Protected Lands and Agencies  Environmental Impacts and Natural Resources Decision Making The Endangered Species Act  The National Environmental Policy Act  Conclusions      Discussion Questions Suggested Readings Endnotes   Chapter 7: Evaluating Environmental Policy Critiques of Environmental Policy          Environmental Policy Evaluation            Program Outcomes    Examining Decision Making and Institutions  Signs of Progress          Environmental Protection Policies  Natural Resource Policies  Data Assessment and Public Dialogue  Costs, Benefits, and Risks         Comparing Risks and Setting Priorities  Controversies over Cost—Benefit Analysis and Risk Assessment  Environmentalists’ Use of Economic Analysis  Jobs, the Economy, and the Environment           Employment, Business Costs, and Environmental Policy  Seeking Common Ground: Toward Environmental Sustainability  Environmental Justice  Reforming Environmental Regulation      The Case for Policy Alternatives Assessing New Policy Approaches  New Directions in Energy and Natural Resources Policy            The Appeal of User Fees  Privatization of Public Land  Social Cost Accounting  Government Purchasing Power  Ecosystem Management  Conclusions      Discussion Questions    Suggested Readings      Endnotes   Chapter 8: Environmental Policy and Politics for the Twenty-First Century Environmental Goals and Policy Choices: Domestic and Global  Three Generations of Environmental Policy and Politics  Toward Sustainable Development?       The President’s Council on Sustainable Development  Sustainable Development at State and Local Levels  Business and the Environment  Citizens and the Environment  International Environmental Policy and Politics   Environmental Institutions and Policies  Institutional Capacity for Global Sustainable Development  Political Conflict and Global Environmental Policy          Climate Change  Protection of Biological Diversity  Population Growth and Economic Development Conclusions      Discussion Questions    Suggested Readings      Endnotes     References   Index