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environmental chapter 3

Terms in this set (126)

probabiilty that a condition or action will lead to an injury, damage, or loss
risk
3 main considerations of risk
probability of a bad outcome, consequences, and cost of dealing
mathematical statement about how likely it is that something will happen
probability
what do most decisions in life involve
risk and cost
most environmental decisions involve finding a balance between
perceived cost of enduring the risk and the economic cost of eliminating the conditions that pose the risk
uses facts and assumptions to estimate probability of harm to human health or the environment that may result from particular management decisions
risk assessment
the assessment process provides an orderly way to deal with
scientific issues when evaluating whether a risk exists, magnitude, and consequences
what do scientist do if a situation is well known
use probabilities based on past experience to estimate risks
used to estimate risks for situations with no known history
models
most risk assessments are statistical statements that are
estimates of the probability of negative effects
because of uncertainties, government regulators have decided to
be on the side of safety to protect the public health
many of the most important threats to human health and the environment are
highly uncertain
decision making plan that weighs policy alternatives and selects the most appropriate regulatory action by integrating risk assessment results with engineering data, and with social, economic, and political concerns
risk management
what is the purpose of risk management
reduce the probability or magnitude of a negative outcome
what does a risk management plan include
evaluating scientific info regarding risks, deciding how much risk is acceptable, which ones should be highest priority, where greatest benefits would be realized, and how the plan will be enforced
the point at which there is no significant health or environmental risk
negligible risk
business and industry must have
management policies or risk tolerance programs, either formal or understood
each entity has some level of risk
it is willing to accept
the more familiar the issues are
greater level of risk that is acceptable
people often ? frequency and seriousness of sensational causes of death, and ? risks from familiar causes that claim lives one by one
overestimate, underestimate
public generally perceives involuntary risks as
greater than voluntary risks
the public generally perceives newer technologies as
greater risks than old, familiar technologies
one of the most profound dilemmas facing decision makers is
how to address the inconsistency between the scientific and the risk public perceptions of envirommental risks
study of how people choose to use resources to produce goods and services and how those goods and services are distributed to the public
economics
look at resources as the available supply of something that can be used
economists
3 categories of resources
land, labor, capital
human resources
labor
technology and knowledge
capital
natural resources
land
structures and processes humans can use for their own purposes but cannot create
natural resources
can be formed or regenerated by natural processes
renewable resources
not replaced by natural processes, or rate of replacement is so slow as to be ineffective
nonrenewable resources
amount of a good or service people are willing to sell at a given price
supply
amount of good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy at a given price
demand
relationship between supply and demand is often illustrated by
supply/demand curve
reflects the strength of demand for and availability of the commodity
price
how do we assign value to natural resources
based on our perception of their relative scarcity
if a natural resource has always been rare
it is expensive
if supply is very large and demand is low
perceived to be free
even ? can be overexploited
renewable resources
can be measured by the maximum amount of other goods and services people are willing to give up to obtain a good or service
economic value of common resources
economic value of common resources can be measured by the maximum amount of other goods and services people are willing to give up to obtain a good or service
contingent valuation method (CVM)
used to estimate the economic values of tangible and intangible services provided by the environment
national and local measures
valuation work has begun on
non timber forest products, forestry, and health impacts, of air pollution, and water borne diseases
data on water purification, prevention of natural disasters, recreational, aesthetic, and cultural services has been
difficult to obtain
examples of environmental costs of resource exploitation
pollution, species extinction, resource depletion, and loss of scenic quality
those that may not be immediately recognized and must be paid at a later date
deferred costs
those that are borne by someone other than the individuals using the resource
external costs
expenditures to correct pollution damage once pollution has already ocurred
pollution costs
those incurred to prevent pollution that would otherwise result from some production or consumption activity
pollution prevention costs
formal quantitative method of assessing costs and benefits of competing uses of a resource, or solutions to a problem, and deciding which is most effective
cost benefit analysis
used to determine whether a policy generates more social costs than social benefits and , if benefits outweigh costs, how much activity would obtain optimal results
cost benefit analysis
4 Steps in Cost Benefit Analysis
identification of process, determination of all impacts, determination of the value of impacts, calculation of net benefit
must decide which preferences have standing in the analysis
analyst
why is matching economic processes with environmental resources difficult
great difference in the way economic systems and ecological systems function
take place over tens of thousands to millions of years
ecosystem processes
take from a few minutes to a few years
market processes
for ecosystems, place/space is ? and the ? of a given location are not transferable
critical, capacities
measured in different units
economics and ecology
economists have stated that when everybody shares ownership of a resource, there is
a strong tendency to overexploit and misuse that resource
where were problems inherent in common ownership of resources were outlined by
biologist Garrett Hardin in "The Tragedy of the Commons" (1968)
pasturelands in England provided free by the king to anyone wishing to graze cattle
the "Commons"
there are no problems on the commons as long as
the number of animals is small in relation to the size of the pasture
optimal individual strategy is to
enlarge one's personal herd as much as possible
As each herder purposes the optimal strategy:
each herd increases in size, commons become overgrazed, everyone loses as the animals die of starvation, even thought the eventful result is clear, no one acts to avert disaster
a large commons
ecosphere
consume more than their fair share of resources
the U.S. and other industrialized natios
operates on an individual scale
tragedy of the Commons
3 economic transformations in the past century
industrial revolution, technology revolution, modern era of globalization
the world is at the threshold of another great change:
next revolution (the age of green economics)
leader, drawing 44% of its energy from renewable fuels
brazil
world average of energy drawn from renewable fuels
13%
worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases
china
growth in global energy demand could be
cut in half over next 15 years using existing technologies
U.S. could create ? jobs if ? of electricity were produced by renewable resources
300,000, 20%
gift from the government to individuals or private enterprise to encourage actions considered important to the public interest
subsidy
useful when they have a clear purpose and are used for short transition periods
subsidy
when used inappropriately, subsidies can
lead to economic distortions
Economic Distortion
keeps price of a good below true market value and may encourage activities detrimental to the environment
once subsidies become part of the economic fabric of a country,
they are difficult to eliminate
when did George Bush sign the into law the small business liability relief and brownfield revitalization act
Jan. 11, 2002
provides incentives for small businesses and other entities to develop brown fields, most of which are in urban areas
Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfield Revitalization Act
areas perceived to have environmental liabilities
brown fields
brown fields were previously considered too risky to purchase and develop since
purchasers could potentially acquire the environmental liabilities associated with the property
the program has resulted in many successful projects that have brought business back to where it once was, minimizing impact on green belts outside urban areas
grants for small business
use economic forces and the ingenuity of entrepreneurs to achieve a high degree of environmental protection at low cost
market based instruments
bc of subsidies and external costs, many environmental resources are
underpriced
can be used to determine fair prices for env. resources
MBI
provide consumers with information about environmental consequences of purchasing decisions
information programs
give companies the right to emit specified amounts of pollutants
tradable emissions permits (permits can be sold for future use)
provide incentives for environmental improvement by making damaging activities and products more expensive
emission fees and taxes
place is surcharge on the price of a product which is refunded upon return for reuse or recycling
deposit-refund programs
fees collected to ensure proper care is taken to protect environmental resources
performance bonds
process of assessing environmental effects associated with production, reuse , and disposal of a product over its entire useful life
life cycle analysis
this process can identify changes in product design and process technology that would reduce the ultimate environmental impact of the product
life cycle analysis
concept that the producer of a product is responsible for all negative effects involved in its production, including the ultimate disposal of the product
extended product responsibility
if manufacturers pay for post consumer impacts, they will
alter designs in order to reduce waste
benefits of extended product responsibility
cost savings, increased design efficiency, more efficient environmental protections
obstacles of extended product responsibility
cost of instituting programs, lack of assessment tools and information, difficulty in building working relationships, hazardous waste regulations , antitrust laws
3 marketing principles for successful green products
consumer value positioning, calibration of consumer knowledge, credibility of product claims
example of educating consumers with marketing messages that connect env. attributes with desired consumer values
pesticide free produce is healthier
example of frame env. products attributes as "solutions" for consumer needs
rechargable batteries offer longer performance
example of creating engaging and educational internet sites about the product
tide coldwater's site calculates annual savings
use env. product and consumer benefit claims that are
specific, meaningful, unpretentious, and qualified
development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
sustainable development
most sustainable development definitions refer to the
viability of natural resources and ecosystems over time, and to maintenance of human living standards and economic growth
completed phase 1 of a 35 million energy efficiency and solar program expected to save more than 70 million over 25 years
Chevron Energy Solutions and Contra Costa Community College District (2008)
campus sustainability initiative
photovoltaic panels were mounted on parking lot canopies, high efficiency lighting and energy management systems were installed, system offsets 5.6 million lbs, of CO2 annually, equivalent to removing 629 cars or planting 400 hectares of trees
characteristics that define sustainability
Renewability, substitution, interdependence, adaptability, institutional commitment
finances the investments necessary to prevent pollution and to improve the env. by a better allocation of resources
economic growth
can solve many environmental problems
science and technological advances
mutually reinforcing and must be simultaneously pursued if either is to be reached
economic and environmental well being
for sustainable development to be a viable concept,
modern, environmentally sound technology must be transferred to developing nations
another major obstacle to sustainable development in many countries
social structure that gives majority of wealth to a tiny minority of the population
requires choices based on values
sustainable development
are in a position to promote sustainable development
high income developed nations with high education
why are highly developed nations able to promote sustainable development
they have resources to invest in research and technologies to implement their findings.
how do poor nations pay for development projects
borrow from developed nations
innovative mechanism for addressing the debt issue while encouraging investment in conservation and sustainable development
debt for nature exchanges
buys debt from the creditor at a discount
conservation organization
has debt removed and is relieved of the huge burden of paying interest on the debt
the debtor country
requires the debtor country to spend money on appropriate conservation and sustainable development projects
conservation organization
primary goal of debt for nature exchanges
not been debt reduction but funding of natural resource management investment
are also being applied to debt laden developing countries
economic concepts
requires choices based on values
sustainable development
criticism of cost benefit analysis is based on the
question of whether everything has an economic value
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