Environmental Policy 101

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This page is still under construction! Only the bare bones of the page have been posted, and we will be updating it with detailed notes on each subtopic. Feel free to use what’s here to guide your research, but check back later to find the updated page. If you are interested in helping fill this page out, email eeep@email.virginia.edu.

“Any measure by a government or corporation or other public or private organization regarding the effects of human activities on the environment, particularly those measures that are designed to prevent or reduce harmful effects of human activities on ecosystems”

– Encyclopedia Britannica

Policies that include/ goals of:

  • Pollution control
  • Resource management
  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Land use and planning

Main instruments

  • Regulation
    • Eg. cap and trade
  • Financial incentives
    • Taxes
    • Subsidies
  • Reporting/labeling
  • Global agreements

Challenges

  • Environmental racism 
  • Scope of each locality/state versus federal

History

  • Began in the 60s/70s, especially with Silent Spring book

Legislation to Know

  • Clean water act
  • Clean air act
  • IRA
  • NEPA

Sources:

Bueren, E. van. (2014, December). Environmental policy | History, Concepts, Instruments, & Examples. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/environmental-policy

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